The Astoria Park Festival seen from atop the Ferris Wheel. Families flocked to Astoria Park this weekend for the first ever Astoria Park Festival underneath the RFK Triborough Bridge. The festival, featuring games, food and fun, ran for four days from July 7 until July 10.

The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (CALDC) sponsored the event.

“I couldn’t get through the crowd without being stopped; people thanking Central Astoria for bringing this wonderful family event to their neighborhood,” President of Central Astoria LDC George Stamatiades said. “We thank the Parks Department and the 114th Precinct for their outstanding support without which this great weekend would not have been possible.”

Executive Director of CALDC Marie Torniali agreed, “It was an amazing sight; hundreds of families with children of every age having a family day in their neighborhood.”

Vice President of CALDC and publisher of the Gazette Tony Barsamian thought the event was delightful.

“What an impressive community event; hundreds of people enjoying themselves in a country fair setting created in beautiful Astoria Park,” he said.

The festival had rides for both younger and older children, totaling more than 20 rides. Some of the rides included the Dream Catcher, where riders are spun around as they were moved from left to right reaching altitudes of more than 50 feet. The ride was considered the most popular amongst the older kids. Other popular rides included the Orient Express, a small roller coaster ride which catered to younger children, the classic and always popular, Ferris Wheel, the Tornado, Sizzler, Orbitor, Zipper and Starship amongst others. Children had the option of two fun houses to play in each with a Mardi Gras and Planet Rock-and-Roll theme.

Riders, in case they got too dizzy from all the head spinning rides, were welcomed to partake in all kinds of food like gyros and shish kabobs, corn dogs, hot dogs, corn on-the-cob, pizza, fresh Italian sausages, Philly cheese steaks.

For those with a sweet tooth, they were welcomed to ice cream, cotton candy, candy apples and snow cones at the candy castle concession stand.

Deep-fried anything was also available including deep-fried Oreos, Twinkies, peanut buttercups and the carnival favorite, funnel cakes. Carnival goers also enjoyed freshly squeezed lemonade from a lemonade stand in the shape of a lemon.

The carnival was best summed up by Gary Zepetelli who said, “Central Astoria did it again and brought another wonderful family event to Astoria Park. Thank you.”

—Amra Radoncic