Arts & Entertainment
Thousands of Residents Support Yorktown's Festival and Street Fair
Local business, town government, and public came together to enjoy a day of autumn fun; profits to be donated to charities.
More than 15,000 local residents came out to eat, drink, and be merry this past weekend at the second annual Yorktown Festival and Street Fair.
The two-day celebration served as meet-and-greet of sorts as the area's most beloved shops, restaurants, and health clubs became acquainted with Yorktown's bustling population.
"It's a festival designed to bring public, town government, and the business community together for a day of fun," said Joe Visconti, Chamber of Commerce President and the event's coordinator.
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Town spirit stretched across the main drag this October as it was stuffed to the brim with twice as many booths and patrons as last year. In 2009, there were 180 vendors. This year, a whopping 300 booths of commercial goods were available, offering the sale of clothing, a bite to eat, and live entertainment.
"It was a lot of work, but everyone had a good time doing it—from the planning of the event to the actual day," Visconti said.
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Many participants from the first debut couldn't wait to repeat the new tradition.
"Last year this was brand new, and it was a good experience—I thought doing it again would be great," said Helena Rodriguez, board president of the Yorktown Teen Center.
The Jack DeVito Field provided a children's haven filled with jumping castles, train rides, and cartoon characters such as Pocahantas and Strawberry Shortcake.
Nearby, the main stage made room for some feel-good tunes. On Saturday, up and coming artist TJay dazzled audiences with contemporary musical styling, followed by the Bronx Wanders, who provided music from past decades.
Those freshly engaged to be married were in for a treat too, as local catering hall Colonial Terrace offered a booth where couples had the chance to sign up to win a "Wedding Photo Booth" for the big day.
For the environmentally health-conscious, fresh produce brought by Hilltop Hanover Farm showed people why eating locally, from nearby farmers, tastes more delicious, while the firefighters of the Yorktown Fire House beckoned locals to help support their organization.
Religious education was also part of the well-rounded afternoon. The Gideons International, a bible distribution company came equipped with free pocket-sized holy books to hand out to those walking by on the street.
Patrons also explored the Health & Fitness Expo by having their blood tested, body fat analyzed. Participating gyms included Solaris Sports Club and Club Fit.
The Yorktown Teen Center, whose aim is to steer youth on a safe path, sold seasonal candles and Frisbees to attract the attention of the area's teenagers.
"There's a lot of negative stuff happening [with teens]," Rodriguez said. "We're providing a different outlet as a healthy way of doing things."
The group's organizers weren't the only ones engaging with the public.
By selling M&Ms and other sweet treats, a couple of the younger members also tested out their abilities in sales as they tried to raise money to buy a new XBOX gaming system for the Teen Center. Max Shulman-Hulter said he thought the Yorktown Festival and Street Fair was a useful way to get people to donate to the cause.
"We thought [the event] was the easiest way to get the most publicity for the Center and to buy the XBOX since we don't have the funds ourselves," he said.
Favorite eateries of the community brought along some afternoon treats. Peter Pratt's Inn and Desert Moon Café sold their respective tacos, while Murphy's Restaurant and Kirby's Grill and Bar offered grilled meats to the public.
As the festival came to a close, vendors and government would give a portion of the proceeds generated from the event to the less fortunate people.
Visconti said last year administrators gave a total of $20,000 to local charities, and this time around they plan to do the same once profits are calculated.
"All the vendors did well throughout the weekend—we're definitely going to do it again next year," he said.