New City Street Fair Expands

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 22 for the New City Street Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The New City Chamber of Commerce is presenting the rain or shine. Chamber President Steve Weissblatt said the entertainment and fun will stretch over a larger area along South Main Street than the September event.

“The live music will be at the start of the event – Congers Road,” he explained. “ We have a street closure all the way to Third Street.  We have permits for the sidewalks as well.”

He said that additional space was requested from the town because as of the first week of April there were already more than 100 arts and crafts vendors signed up, three bands, one DJ, kids’ bouncing activities, mobile video games, kids’ rides, games and numerous food stands. Last year, the street fair covered from Congers Road to First Street and some two dozen vendors had to be turned away for lack of space.

Weissblatt said the “House of Bounce” will be set up on the Rockland County Courthouse lawn. There will another area with kid’s rides near Third Street and in between the “Arcade2Go” truck will be parked. The home theater gaming truck has 22 video screens inside and four screens outside for gamers.  Nominal fees will be charged for the rides and arcade games.

The emphasis is on local.  The bands are being sponsored by New City businesses.  is bringing “The Prime Cut” to the event and is providing the “Jam Club,” made up of its music students and “Samsara,” a heavy rock band whose members are New City residents and high school seniors.  Weissblatt said there could be more additions including pony rides and a classic car display and sponsors and vendors can still apply. 

 “This is a great way to draw thousands of people to New City,” he said.  “It’s a way to showcase Main Street of New City.”

Weissblatt said the chamber and town have been working closely on the planning of the event, which will be situated along the newly revitalized South Main Street. Although a New City festival was held for a number of years, the street fair is really something new.

“This is the second time it is on the street,” he said, explaining the previous festival took place on the courthouse lawn and in its parking lot.

Event sponsors include: Rockland Chrysler Jeep; ; Rocket Wraps; ; ; Perronoccui’s Italian Deli;; ; ; ; ; Nelson Metals; Pinebrook Industries; ; Gatehill Day Camp; l; ; ; ; Costco; Rockland County Shields, , Photos By Phil (Costa) and . The sponsors’ names will be listed on t-shirts that the chamber will be giving out for free along with Frisbees.

Weissblatt approached every small local business in New City about taking a vendor spot at the event.  Money raised by the street fair will go towards three scholarships of $2,000 each for high school seniors attending Clarkstown North, Clarkstown South and Albertus Magnus high schools. Applications must be submitted by May 7.

Last year’s fair went so well, that the chamber decided to expand it in size and number.

“It was such a successful venture last September that it will bring that many more people to town,” he said. “Two is always better than one.”

The second New City Street Fair falls on Sunday, Sept. 2.