Pedestrians will frolic freely on 10 blocks of Bedford Avenue on Saturday when Williamsburg’s biggest retail corridor becomes a pedestrian mall.
Williamsburg Walks — an annual multi-weekend, multi-block street party — is back, and this year the celebration will expand its length and duration, stretching two additional blocks to Metropolitan Avenue and growing from a two-day festival to a three-Saturday bash.
“We really focused our energy in creating passive spaces,” said Williamsburg Walks organizer Ryan Kuonen. “We’re hoping that the magic of Williamsburg will create the performances, theater, and music on Bedford Avenue.”
The parties will run from 3 pm to 8 pm on June 9, 16, and 23 and amblers can look forward a roadway dotted with pedestrians playing schoolyard games, small concerts, and scrabble contests for the whole family.
Businesses on the temporarily car-free blocks can set up sidewalk vending tables in front of their stores and bars can even extend their sidewalk cafes to the curb.
There’s a new kissing booth on Bedford Avenue and N. Sixth Street, sponsored by the hip sex shop Shag, and a speaker’s corner at N. Eighth Street for storytelling, politicking, and stand-up comedy — perfect for the neighborhood’s aspiring Al Frankens.
Williamsburg Walks [Bedford Ave. between N. 12th Street and Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 384–2248, www.williamsburgwalks.org] June 9, 16, and June 23, 3–8 pm.
Reach reporter Aaron Short at ashort@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2547.
