Sunset says farewell to summer with annual Fifth Avenue BID Festival

The sun has set on another successful Sunset Park festival.

It was a beautiful day to say farewell to summer as The Sunset Park Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) held its annual Fifth Avenue BID Street Festival, which took place on Sunday, September 17.

The festival spanned from 44th to 59th Street along Fifth Avenue and once again featured activities for the entire family.

According to Executive Director of the BID Renee Giordano, the event was one of its best yet.

“It was incredible,” she said. “I know I say it was the biggest every year but this time everyone else was saying it too. There were people everywhere. Many of our vendors who are repeat vendors who come back, they’ve been doing so well they took an extra spot.”

Kids and adults alike enjoyed the festivities they had to choose from.

“The NARS Foundation does art projects and classes and asked years ago if they can be in this,” she said. “We give free space to non-profits and they set up tables and had all kinds of arts and craft equipment and kids helped them make mosaics, collages and color pictures. They had so many this year he had to set up a third table.”

Children were also treated to rides, fingerprinting from the NYPD, and new to this year, a petting zoo.

“The kids enjoyed feeding the animals,” Giordano said. “We had pony rides for the first time in several years. Kids could pick a hat so parents could take pictures with the hat on. It was a great touch.”

Music was also popular as attendees were dancing on the streets and enjoyed performances by such acts as the Regina Opera House.

Local businesses also fared well, according to Giordano. “We had numerous new businesses who have never taken part and then some of the others were taking more space,” she said. “I know the vendors and businesses did very well. I already spoke to a few of them and they said they did better business than ever before.”

One business, Anay’s Boutique, even provided a limo and decorated it like a princess carriage for attendees to take pictures on or with.

What makes each year special is the closeness of the community. “What’s special about this festival is we give a personal touch,” she said. “We know their names and family history so most of them have been coming for years. They come back each year and some only want to come to our festival because they’re used to it here and enjoy it.”