Bayside Sunday Stroll: A Dance Party, Pizza Eating Contest & More

BAYSIDE, QUEENS -- Bayside residents in search of some free fun can head to Bell Boulevard this weekend, where they'll find everything from dance classes to a pizza eating contest and a giant bubble show at this year's Sunday Stroll.

The Bayside Village BID's annual "Bell Blvd Sunday Stroll" will return to the neighborhood's downtown area on Sept. 23 from noon to 5 p.m., this year stretching three blocks instead of two from 38th to 41st Avenue.

Christine Silletti, executive director of the Bayside Village BID, unveiled the lineup for this year's event on Monday.

"Watch a bubble show or a live performance, listen to great music, learn to dance, work the biggest spirograph you’ve ever seen, or sit back and watch everyone else from outdoor cafes on Bell Blvd," Silletti said in a press release.

The bubble show is courtesy of Central Park Bubbles, an effervescent entertainment company founded by two Central Park performers featured in the likes of The Today Show and the 2014 Super Bowl. Participants can watch the performers work their magic and learn how to make their own bubble creations.

New Yorkers with a bottomless stomach and an insatiable appetite for pepperoni pies can sign up to be in a pizza eating contest hosted by Uno's Pizzeria and Grill at 39-02 Bell Blvd. Participants are set to begin scarfing down slices at 4 p.m.

If pizza isn't your thing, Bayside Dumpling House will be doing cooking demonstrations from their new spot at 42-18 Bell Blvd. Other restaurants along the downtown stretch will also serve food outside for the stroll, Siletti said.

Diners can enjoy a slew of live music performances throughout the day, including music from local bands the Skeedle Brothers and Chickenhead. Young performers from the Robert Mann Dance Centre will also show off what they've learned in shows throughout the day.

For those who want to tap into their own rhythm, the Queens Dance Project will be at the Sunday Stroll to host a free Bachata dance lesson and dance party.

Orange Theory will cater to the event's sporty crowd with free volleyball and dodge ball games - including free beach balls - while brainiacs try out an Escape Experience challenge.

The Sunday Stroll will also be filled with attractions such as bounce houses, a sand art station and other games and crafts to keep the little ones busy, Siletti said.

For a full lineup of the day's events, visit the Bell Blvd Sunday Stroll 2018 Facebook page.

Lead photo courtesy of Bayside Village BID