Crowds of local residents will mingle with neighbors and enjoy food and entertainment, when the Massapequa Park Merchants Association hosts its annual summer street festival next weekend.

The association is busily gearing up for the event, which will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 20, 21 and 22. An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people are expected to attend.

Like an old-fashioned block party, the event will feature music, dancing and food. A fair with carnival and pony rides, face-painting, sidewalk sales, and other entertainment will also be part of the extravaganza. In addition, a petting zoo is being made possible by a donation from Circuit City.

"It's always been, traditionally, two weeks before Labor Day. People are back from vacation, getting ready to take their kids back to school, and it's just something to get the fall season started," said organizer Gail Klubnick of the Merchants Association.

"It's almost like one big giant block party for all the store-owners on Park Blvd., and all the customers that shop here all year long. That's why we try to have as many free things as we possibly can."

Special sales by the merchants of Park Boulevard will kick off the festival on Friday. These will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, Park Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic to make way for the craft vendors, rides, food and entertainment.

On Saturday, the festival is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will feature the following entertainment: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - the music of Banjo Bob, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. - karate demonstrations, 5 p.m. - the music of the Don Michaels Orchestra, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - performance by Beatlemania. Also, throughout the day there will be special events at the showmobile. On Sunday, the festival will be open from noon to 6 p.m., and will be wrapped up with music from the band Chameleon.

The purpose of the festival, which has been held for over 20 years, is to promote the businesses on Park Boulevard. Over the years, it evolved from a sidewalk sale into a large-scale community street fair.

"It's gotten bigger, it's gotten more publicity, it's gotten a lot more participation from merchants," said Klubnick. "The community looks forward to it."

The money raised from the rides and fees paid by outside craft vendors helps the Merchants Association pay for Christmas decorations and other community projects, such as student scholarships.

"It's only used for community things. If we have any left over at the end of the year, we make a donation to an organization," said Klubnick. "It's all for the benefit of Massapequa Park."

The Massapequa Park Merchants Association represents storeowners on Park Boulevard only, whereas the Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas is composed of businesspeople from throughout the Massapequas. The two groups share members and collaborate on mutually beneficial projects.

Klubnick enthusiastically encouraged residents to attend the festival.

"We have a wonderful, fun time. There's lots to do, there's lots to see. There's plenty of bargains, lots of good food," she said. "And, you'll probably find your neighbors down there too."