Winner of a pet costume contest in Woodside. The winner was a white poodle carrying Hillary Clinton on a pedestal (Photo: Queens Post)
March 8, 2022 By Allie Griffin
An Astoria business organization is hosting a free event for families and their furry friends to ring in the spring later this month.
The Steinway Astoria Partnership is hosting a “Spring Fest and Paw-rade” event on 31st Avenue, between Steinway Street and 38th Street, to welcome the first day of spring on Sunday, March 20.
The event, which is free and requires no pre-registration or tickets, runs from noon to 2:30 p.m. It will offer a variety of activities for children as well as a pet costume contest. Attendees are invited to bring along their pets dressed in their best spring attire for the chance to win prizes.
Families can head to 31st Avenue to enjoy arts and crafts projects, balloon art, a magic show and live music.
The Afro-Latineers, a Latin Jazz band with West African influence, will perform at noon and the pet costume contest will start at 1 p.m. with prizes for the best dressed available. Then Zabo Circus Productions will put on a live magic show and juggling performance for children at 2 p.m.
If attendees don’t have a furry friend to compete in the pet costume constant, they can bring one home from the event. Animal Care Centers of New York will bring a variety of animals in need of a home to 31st Avenue for on-site adoptions during the event from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The Spring Fest is part of the city’s Open Culture program and is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Small Business Services Neighborhood Development Grant Initiative.
The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition Inc. is also a partner in organizing the free event.
The Steinway Astoria Partnership is encouraging attendees to patronize the unique business that line Steinway Street and other nearby streets before and after the event to support the area’s small business owners.
