After two weeks of rain and cold grey skies, the sun rose in the sky on Friday, May 15, just in time for the Spring Festival. The temperature was above 80 degrees, there wasn't a dark cloud in the sky, and every puddle on Seventh Street was just a memory. Thousands of people congregated on Seventh Street to enjoy the late afternoon/evening of festivities sponsored by the Central Business Alliance (CBA). All proceeds from the event will benefit the Special Education Parent-Teacher Association (SEPTA) of the Garden City schools. Former Village Trustee Eileen Collins emceed the event from the bandstand located in front of the Grand Union and led the enthusiastic crowd in rounds of applause for the musicians from the Garden City Middle School's Jazz Ensemble who provided musical entertainment during the festival.

The Jazz Ensemble members and their teacher/director entertained the crowd as people gathered in front of Grand Union to watch them perform. Families were treated to duets from the musical Annie featuring Garden City's own Annie and Daddy Warbucks. Up and down Seventh Street children and adults could be heard humming or singing along to the dynamic duo whose talented performance was heard on speakers from Franklin Avenue almost all the way to Hilton Avenue. Irish folk dancing was also featured with many of the community's young ladies performing for their neighbors, friends, and families.

Besides the extremely popular sport of chasing each other and spraying silly string all over one another, the children of Garden City were able to unwind after a long school week and finally play outside after all the rain and engage in the many activities on the street. At the Hilton Avenue end of Seventh Street there was an enormous inflated ride upon which the kids climbed up inflated stairs to a platform and then jumped and slid down a huge balloon slide into a very large padded landing. The line for this ride extended so far back towards Franklin Avenue people were able to play the raffles along the street while waiting with their children. A freestanding basketball hoop and ball, a Sony Play Station, a mountain bike and helmet, a 20 inch television, a Magic Attic Club Doll, four Mets tickets, and Beanie Babies were all raffled to raise money for SEPTA, thanks to the donations of Garden Buick, Goodyear, Hempstead Lincoln Mercury, Sears, SEPTA members, Siegel Fenchel & Peddy, and Things & Stuff.

Children were also able to enjoy big chair photos with oversized props, where they could sit on the giant chair with their friends and have a group photo commemorate the day. Little artists made colorful works of art with sand in glass bottles for their parents to bring home and proudly display. Many kids opted to cover those free hands with colored wax at the wacky wax booth. The big inflated moon walk is always a popular spot as kids practice their bouncing Tigger dance together. A lovely lady clown brought smiles to countless children's faces as she sculpted colorful balloon crowns, puppies with leashes, butterflies, and more. Kids could pick the colors for the balloons and the animal as she smiled talked with them, all the while making balloon magic. A juggling and card trick demonstrating clown mingled among the crowds.

There was plenty of food and beverages as well as shopping opportunities thanks to the merchants of the Garden City business community. Garden City Life spoke with many people shopping and sampling the food along Seventh Street and we found that many of the people at the Spring Festival were from all over Long Island who had seen the announcements in Anton Publications in their communities, were driving through the Village saw the crowds and decided to stop and see what was going on, or were spending the day with friends or family in the Village and were brought along to enjoy the festivities. Everyone was impressed with the turnout and the community spirit in Garden City and plan to return and support the downtown area in the future.

Most importantly, SEPTA's message about the importance of special education was shared with thousands of people. The need for support to aid children with learning disabilities and other special needs, so that they too may be able to obtain a full and well-rounded education along with their peers, was passed on throughout the Garden City community and across Long Island as visitors went back to their own communities with a better understanding of the needs of students. With the proceeds from the fesitval going directly to SEPTA, they will again be able to provide grants to the schools to help individual students obtain the specific help they each need as well as help SEPTA continue to spread its message throughout Garden City.