Many people in town still remember the Port Promenade. For a few hours once a year upper Main Street became one great neighborhood block party. The street was closed to traffic and everyone in town came to browse among the specials offered by local merchants, dine al fresco at booths set up by local restaurants, and meet and greet their friends and neighbors. The Port Washington Chamber of Commerce's Octoberfest Antiques & Collectibles Street fair brings back the spirit of this great community event. Octoberfest has been attracting over 12,000 people annually from Port throughout the tri-state area. This year the Octoberfest will take place on Sunday, Oct. 12 (rain date Oct. 19) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is sponsored by State Bank of Long Island.

Upper Main Street will again become a pedestrian mall from Port Washington Boulevard to Belleview Avenue. The fair will feature over 80 quality antiques and collectibles vendors brought in by Elias Pekale, an organizer with an excellent reputation. There will be some of Port's own friendly antiques and collectibles dealers, too. Local merchants will set up sidewalk displays of their merchandise and many of Port's fine food establishments will be selling their specialists at sidewalk booths. To add to the Octoberfest spirit, Chamber of Commerce President Warren Schein has arranged for a return of "The Happy Wanderers," an oompah band that has delighted everyone at past Octoberfests. Officer MacGruff will be there along with some new activities for the kids, too.

The Chamber of Commerce has been working closely with the Port Washington Police District to make sure everything goes smoothly and safely. Main Street will be closed to traffic from Port Washington Boulevard to Mackey Avenue from 8 a.m. to approximately 7 p.m. Please use alternate routes during these times. There is plenty of free parking in all five of the town's commuter/shopper parking lots, in the Montfort lot (by the post office) and in the Fleet Bank lot on Irma Avenue. Although parking meters are not in effect on Sundays, all other parking rules will be enforced. Skatebooards, roller blades, and bicycles will not be allowed in the fair area to ensure the safety of the pedestrians and vendors. Access to the parking lot behind Carlo's Pizza will be available from Mackey Avenue to lower Main Street.

Lucy Mazany of State Bank of Long Island said this is the perfect time to purchase your fall home and garden decorations and to get a head start on your holiday gift shopping. She joins with Warren Schein in urging everyone to plan to come to Main Street on Oct. 12 for a day filled with family fun, great buys, unique treasures, entertainment and delicious food. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce office at 883-6566.