Sheepshead Bay’s flagship street fair drew huge crowds over the weekend.
Thousands of Brooklynites descended upon Emmons Avenue for the Bay Improvement Group’s annual BayFest. The free event featured live music, kids’ activities, and samples of local food, as well as information about disaster recovery. Attendees said the occasion was an important day for communities still reeling from Hurricane Sandy a year and a half after the storm.
“It really was like a sea of people on Emmons Avenue,” said Michael Taylor of Gerritsen Beach. “It was nice to see something other than water flooding the avenue.”
The weather proved better than last year, when crowds had to brave a bit of rain, attendees said.
For the first time, organizers allowed restaurants to set up tables and give away free samples. To draw attention to the local fare, BayFest organizers brought in a special guest — a travelling truck loaded with six-ton replica of an Idaho potato. Local eateries offered up some samples of potato-based dishes to keep with the tater theme, and potato pies from Georgian restaurant Apani were a big hit, folks said.
“My step daughter loved them,” said Taylor.
A variety of live music added to the fun, too, delighting local fans.
Artists included indie-pop singer Darnaa, Michael Lynch of American Idol fame, and Brooklyn’s Adriana Louise, who appeared on TV’s “The Voice.” But festival-goers said the Fab Four impressionists in Strawberry Fields stole the show.
“The Beatles tribute was fantastic,” said Steve Croteau. “When they played ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ — it was great.”
