Quantcast

PHOTOS: Sunshine and smiles in Bay Ridge as locals revel at Third Avenue Festival and Ragamuffin Parade

Bay Ridge celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Third Avenue Festival.
Bay Ridge celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Third Avenue Festival on Oct. 1.
Photo by Arthur de Gaeta

After a days of cloudy skies, Bay Ridge residents enjoyed a sunny celebration at the annual Third Avenue Festival and Raggamuffin Parade last weekend.

On Oct. 1, restaurants and business owners lined over 25 blocks along Third Avenue along with kid-friendly attractions, food, and live musicians. Dan Texeira, president of the Merchants of Third Avenue, said Sunday’s turnout was the best the event has ever seen — and a perfect way to celebrate the event’s 50th anniversary. 

Southern Brooklynites spent the day dancing, listening to local bans and enjoying neighborhood eats.
Southern Brooklynites spent the day dancing, listening to local bans and enjoying neighborhood eats at the Third Avenue Festival.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta

“One of the largest turnouts, the weather was perfect,” Texeira told Brooklyn Paper. “It was good anniversary.”

He said the combination of tons of attractions, bands and mostly sunny skies encouraged the crowd to come out.

Kids cheese and grin as they ride carnival rides.
Kids cheered and grinned as they rode carnival rides at the festival. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta

According to Chip Cafiero, the festival’s event manager, some locals were worried the yearly block party would be washed out like last year’s celebration, but it was all sunshine for the crowds.  

Former Mets player, Ed Kranepool, came out to enjoy the games and signed autographs.
Former Mets player, Ed Kranepool, came out to enjoy the fest and signed autographs. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
Live musicians keep the crowd grooving
Live musicians kept the crowd grooving at the Third Avenue Festival. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta

The successful festival was preceded by the delightful Ragamuffin Parade, a city tradition where children strut down the street in fun, festive costumes, on Sept. 30. 

From cartoon characters to princesses, children enjoyed the festival in their cute costumes.
From cartoon characters to princesses, children enjoyed the festival in their cute costumes. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta

This year’s march was led by the grand marshal Josephine Beckmann, district manager for Community Board 10 and “Man Of The Year” John Quaglione, Deputy Press Secretary at the Brooklyn Diocese. Tots dressed up as aliens from the blockbuster film “Avatar,” the Monopoly Man, and even the captain of the ill-fated Titanic as they paraded through the neighborhood in a display likely to put Halloween to shame. 

Kiddos came out in fun costumes for the Ragamuffin Parade.
Kiddos came out in fun costumes for the Ragamuffin Parade. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
Mr. Monopoly poses for a photo in the Ragamuffin Parade.
Mr. Monopoly posed for a photo in the Ragamuffin Parade. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta