Giddy-up: Eli Speiser takes a ride on a pony at the Midwood Mardi Gras on Avenue M on Sunday.
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta
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New Orleans has nothing on Midwood’s Mardi Gras.
Families filled the streets of Avenue M on Sunday for live entertainment, shopping at the tables of neighborhood businesses, and lightning-fast rides. The 35th annual celebration also included free pony rides, a chance to play chess with a national chess master, and shooting hoops at the Brooklyn Nets truck.
Hosted every year, the festival celebrates several Midwood businesses in an effort to recharge the community’s commercial district and raise funds for after-school programs.
“It was a beautiful day and people got to walk around and see enjoy it,” said event organizer Linda Goodman. “There was something for everybody: the kids who liked chess got to play and the kids who liked basketball got to shoot hoops, too.”
Bubble blaster: Azriel Friedman shoots his bubble gun during the fun street fair in Midwood.
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta
Nothing but Nets: Simcha Braunstein takes a shot at the Brooklyn Nets’ shooting challenge.
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta
Checkmate!: Chess master Eric Fleischman (right) matches wits with Zev Grossberg.
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta
All aboard: The Midwood Mardi Gras children’s train takes Hapid and Hasaam Saqid on a fun ride.
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta
Spin-derella: Sima Rakhamimova holds on tight as the gyro sends her spinning.
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta
