BAYFEST 2012: A Huge Success!

Post date: Jul 24, 2012 8:56:06 PM

"Fantastic!"

"Great!"

"Wonderful!"

"Fun!"

"Beyond expectations!"

"A super day on the bay!"

"BIG's BayFest surely was BIG this time!"

-- attendees of BayFest 2012

Held each May, BayFest is our chance to come together as a community, showcase our unique waterfront and main streets, and celebrate what a truly special place Sheepshead Bay is. This year's BayFest--our 21st!--took place on Sunday, May 20, from noon to 6pm. Offering music (including Jay & The Americans) on ten piers and two stages plus a wealth of fun for all ages, BayFest 2012 drew tens of thousands, making it the biggest community event in Sheepshead Bay history.

With well over 100 performers and not a cloud in the sky, BayFest 2012 offered something for everyone, all for FREE. The United States Merchant Marine Academy kicked off the event with a drill team and color guard, and later, rampart trumpets, while the FDNY on land and sea also moved and inspired the crowd. Main stage performers included Stout; Sonny Boy, from Brooklyn; Sound Drive from Brooklyn; a display by Aviator Gymnastics; surprise guest, local pop sensation Jenna Rose; and routines by dance school Dimensions in Dance. Closing out the day were the get-up-and-dance bag pipin' rockers The Shots, with the Bergen County Firefighters. In between we had over 15 raffle drawings of donations from many local businesses, including four of the local boat owners, who contributed fishing trips and a dinner cruise. Our second stage featured a 90-minute show by Jay & The Americans, courtesy of The Sheryll Princess (Pier 8). Twenty other bands and dance groups performed on ten piers of Emmons Avenue. We were grateful to Stella Maris, our local fishing station that again supplied power to our main stage, and to Knapp St Deli & Jimmy’s Famous Heroes, which supplied food for our 40+ volunteers.

For kids, there were arts and crafts in the park with Scribble Shop and A2Z Party Planning, the Brooklyn Nets "EXPERIENCE" Mobile Unit, Sandy the Seagull from the Brooklyn Cyclones, exhibits by the NY Aquarium, The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and Brooklyn Public Library, and info about Amity School. Adults enjoyed checking out the NEW electric Nissan Leaf from Kings Auto Group. Sponsors, which included Con Ed, National Grid, IL Fornetto, Investors Bank, Knapp Street Deli, Comfort Inn, and Astoria Federal Savings Bank offered raffles and giveaways.

Click to view the BayFest 2012 Official Program Guide.

Having Borough President Marty Markowitz come down to recognize NYC's only vendor-free successful event was an honor to all. Councilman Lew Fidler, Assemblymembers Cymbrowitz & Weinstein, and DA Hynes also attended to share their good wishes and enjoy our huge, one-of-a-kind waterfront party.

As an all-volunteer non-profit event that celebrates our community and keep us in touch with our heritage and history, BayFest 2012 was--by an overwhelming margin--the biggest community event in Sheepshead Bay history and the largest vendor-free street event in NYC. And we are just beginning, so get involved!

Thank you all and see you on May 19th 2013! Please visit www.BigBayFest.org for updates!