The inaugural South Slope Summer Strolls kicks off this Friday, July 19 from 5 to 9 p.m., bringing residents and visitors a relaxing evening of fun, family and food to Fifth Avenue between 12th and 18th Streets.
Hosted by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), the two Fridays — July 19 and 26 — are part of the Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walks program, which closes neighborhood streets to car and bus traffic for a few hours on chosen days, allowing local merchants to turn the avenue into something akin to a relaxing community space.
“People will have opportunity to walk in street, ride bikes, enjoy the open space and discover new stores and restaurants, while businesses will be able to bring chairs out to the curb and bring food and goods outside, although money can only exchange hands inside [the store],” said BID Executive Director Mark Caserta.
“This is the first time we’re doing this. We’ve watched other BIDs run these programs successfully in the summer and now have an opportunity to try it ourselves,” Caserta added.
On the schedule for both days are mobile food and shopping vendors — only from local Fifth Avenue businesses — as well as free arts and crafts, a bouncy house for the kids, face-painting, sidewalk chalk, vintage cars on the overpass over the Prospect Expressway, and live music at Freddy’s Bar (627 Fifth Avenue) and elsewhere. South, a bar at 629 Fifth Avenue, will also be serving free hot dogs.
The lineup on July 19 will also feature music from Brooklyn kiddie music group Rolie Polie Guacamole; July 26 will have music from Sonido Costeño, plus a rock climbing wall from Brooklyn Bowl.
Car traffic and the B63 bus will be rerouted for the duration of the Strolls.
There is no rain date for the Strolls.
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