The Brighton Jubilee returns this Sunday for its 45th year of fun for the whole family, reports The Brownstoner.
The annual street fair is organized each year by the Brighton Neighborhood Association. Pat Singer, the association's president, started the event in 1977 to show the beauty of Brighton Beach in the face of crime spikes. Now, the fair celebrates the immigrants that make the seaside neighborhood a unique cultural destination.
“I love putting the Jubilee together. It’s a labor of love,” stated Singer. “I enjoy when people stop me in the street and ask ‘When is the Jubilee coming?’ I can’t help but get a big smile on my face.”
On August 28, Brighton Beach Avenue will be home to multiple featuring music from all over the world. Adding to the “melting pot” atmosphere, there will be a variety of great food from various cultural cuisines on sale to enlighten your taste buds. And informational booths from city agencies and local nonprofits will line the streets alongside local vendors.
Proceeds from the Brighton Jubilee will go towards the Brighton Neighborhood Association’s many programs and projects throughout the year. Singer says the group’s mission is to help revitalize the neighborhood through housing, senior services, and immigrant outreach.
Many are hopeful for this year’s turn out. Even after the Jubilee was forced to cancel in 2020 due to COVID-19 and soften their relaunch in 2021. And even now deal the organization is dealing with having no headquarters for the day of the street fair.
“This year was a little difficult. Nobody let us use their store to headquarters for two days,” stated Singer. “The Brighton Neighborhood Association has been around for four decades and those residents who have visited our office for advice and/or advocacy know how important it is to be treated like a person, not a number.”
After four decades, the group has been asked to leave their longtime headquarters at Chase Bank on Brighton Beach Avenue. And, unfortunately, no other stores have stepped up to lend the association the space they desperately need. Looking beyond just this weekend’s event, organizers are also raising funds to support the association’s future search for accessible accommodations.
“The Jubilee raised needed funds and now that we have been asked to leave our Chase Bank office after four decades makes raising funds truly a desperate need, so our organization can go on,” Singer said.
