By Rich Bockmann
With the promise of one-of-a-kind creations of the culinary and craft varieties, the Douglaston Village Arts Festival plans to return for the third year Sunday with the works of local artists, food from area restaurants and various performances from live bands and entertainers.
The festival will be held on both the north and south sides of the Long Island Rail Road station from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the event of rain, it will be rescheduled for Oct. 2.
More than 40 vendors will sell original, handmade items ranging from jewelry and pottery to paintings.
“This is an arts festival and all the items will be very high quality, interesting things that you aren’t going to see everywhere else,” said Douglaston resident Carol Pagnani, the festival chairwoman. “All the food being served is from local restaurants and will be made right in front of your eyes.”
Participating restaurants include Strawberry’s, Il Toscano, Giardino’s, Grimaldi’s, the Am Yours Cafe and Dragon Express. This marks the first year the festival will coincide with the city’s Greenmarket, which will run on the south side of the railroad station through November.
Schoolchildren from PS 94, PS 98 and the Divine Wisdom Academy will create artwork for a mural in the railroad underground passageway and also participate in an art contest created to feature local businesses and to advertise their wares. A contest awards presentation will take place during the afternoon.
A bounce castle, cotton candy and face painting will be available for children’s entertainment, while other attractions include live music, improv poetry and storytelling.
According to Pagnani, more than 3,000 people visited the festival last year, and she said it is a good opportunity for shoppers to pick up early holiday gifts that range from two to hundreds of dollars and everywhere in between.
Some 50 percent of the profits from the festival will go to the Douglaston Village Chamber of Commerce, which has already raised $18,000 for a study commissioned by the Douglaston Local Development Corp. on how to rejuvenate the downtown area while maintaining its old-fashioned village square atmosphere.
The festival’s sponsors include the Chamber of Commerce, the Douglas Manor Association, the Douglaston Civic Association, Station Realty, the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society, the Friends of the Library of Douglaston-Little Neck and Party City, as well as participating restaurants.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
