They’ll never forget it!
Brooklynites watched more than a thousand toy elephants parachute from the sky above Dumbo during the nabe’s inaugural Washington Street block party on Sept. 28, a never-before-seen stunt that enthralled the local onlookers, according to event organizers.
“This was our first time sending so many mini ‘Dumbos’ through the air,” said Alexandria Sica, executive director of commerce-booster group the Dumbo Improvement District. “It was very special and we are hooked. Washington Street never looked so magical.”
Hundreds of people turned out for the festivities along the stretch, which is known as the most photographed place in the area because the Manhattan Bridge and Empire State Building visibly tower beyond the cobblestone thoroughfare.
The pachyderms dropped from above as part of a contest organized by the party’s host, in which kids got to choose a numbered toy elephant that organizers later let fly from a rooftop. The lucky tyke whose figurine landed closest to a pre-established target won a $500 shopping spree at neighborhood stores.
Afterwards, youngsters could “adopt” the toys for $20, with proceeds going to area schools PS 307 and the Dock Street Middle School.
Along with the parachuting pachyderms, the event boasted food from local eateries, arts and crafts, temporary tattoo applications, a rock-climbing wall, and tunes from 13-year-old Dumbo resident DJ Kai Song.
