Thousands flocked to Park Slope’s annual Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair, spanning 18 blocks from Sterling Place to 12th Street on May 19.
The bustling street fair along the world’s coolest street, per Time Out New York, featured local restaurants and artists, live music, food vendors, dance performances, bouncy castles for the kids, a pet adoption event by Badass Animal Rescue, and merchants selling home decor, clothing, and handmade crafts.
Melissa Coburn, deputy director of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), sponsor of the fair, told Brooklyn Paper it was a great day.
“The weather cooperated, lots of our own local merchants and businesses came out to participate, lots of Brooklyn artisans as well, local arts and craftspeople, and then a few vendors from outside,” Coburn said.
Coburn said the fair is a “significant” day for the BID because it was also a fundraiser for the nonprofit.
“We do [the fair] with ClearView Festival,” Coburn said. “They book all the vendors for us, and then the revenue that comes in, we’re able to split it with them.”
Brooklynite Clinton Clare and his siblings celebrated his niece’s fourth birthday before they hit the fair. Visiting the fair is a yearly tradition for Clare and his family.
“I got more family coming to meet us now,” Clare said. “I used to go to school at MS51 on Fifth Avenue. I went to PS 321, so I’m always in the neighborhood. I don’t live too far from here, so I’m always around.”
The event was also a family affair for Park Slope originals Judith, Maria, Donna, and Raina, who strolled along Fifth Avenue with a strawberry daiquiri in a Hello Kitty cup decorated with a Puerto Rican flag. They have been coming to the fair ever since they could remember.
“It gets better and better, the ambiance, the people, the food, the vendors,” they declared in unison.
For the second year, the fair hosted a Japan Fest between 9th and 10th Streets and the Philippine Fest between 10th and 11th Streets, which drew masses celebrating the flavors and culture of Japan and the Philippines.
An attendee named Mayjoy who recently moved to Park Slope from Vancouver, Canada, enjoyed Filipino food staples with her friends Famy, Pabi, Nikhil, and Jason.
“I’m Filipino,” Mayjoy said. “So I love the whole Filipino section, it’s really nice seeing Filipino representation here.”
Tia Brown and Kaymel Fields said they felt that the fair had grown throughout the years.
“There’s a Japanese section. And then Filipino, too. So it’s all cultural down there,” Brown said. “When I was growing up, I don’t remember seeing that.”
Brooklyn Paper caught up with friends Kiara Stanifer and Yvette Jolicoeur, who were savoring Okonomiyaki, a Japanese pancake at Japan Fest. Jolicoeur found out about the fair online.
“And I was like, ‘Oh, let’s do something fun on Sunday,” Jolicoeur said. “[The fair] is good times! Lots of people, very dense with so many different food options, really good.”
“And just culturally too, it’s so nice to have something dedicated to Japanese food and style,” Stanifer added.
