Saturday saw the return of family and fun to Covert Avenue for the 26th Annual Covert Avenue Street Fair two years after a devastating fire tore through the heart of town.

Attendees were treated to a wide array of music, food and games among other amenities after a two-year hiatus put the local block party on hold.

The street fair, hosted by the Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce, was the first to be held in two years after the 2020 fire. 

Back then Floral Park police responded to reports of a building fire at the Park Place Bar and Grill at 41 Covert Ave. 

When they arrived at the scene, officers saw fire and smoke pouring from the building in a blaze that spread to at least 11 other adjacent storefronts, according to a news release from the Nassau Police Department.

Firefighters from the Floral Park Fire Department along with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department, Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, the New Hyde Park Fire Department and almost 20 others were represented at the scene throughout the day.

Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said at the time it took firefighters more than four hours to control the fire.

Six businesses sustained major damage or were destroyed, while four others were damaged by smoke, Uttaro said. A private residence also had smoke damage, officials said.

Neighboring stores to Park Place affected by the fire included Villager’s Perk, Shin’s Tae Kwon Do, Luna Eyelash, Capo Ristorante, Covert Nail & Spa, Covert Barber Shop, Original V.I. Pizza, Covert Optical and K. Hunter Boutique.

Last weekend at the corner of Covert and Cisney Avenue, a tasty tailgate was set up with an assortment of cuisines including Mama’s Cuban Kitchen, Extreme Empanadas, The Cone Depot with different food varieties served in waffle cones, B Bistro serving Vietnamese cuisine, Smoke ‘n Wheelz with barbeque, Frankie’s Famous Zeppoles, Zef’s Pizza Firetruck and Knot of This World Pretzels, among others. 

Pellegrini’s was also serving sausage and peppers and burgers outside their storefront to an always long line of hungry patrons. 

Next to the tailgate there was music from the band In the Mix performing the Barry White Experience featuring Ejyp Johnson, a demonstration from the Floral Park Memorial High School kickline and solo artists from Breakout Performances singing different covers from Disney, Broadway and the Rat Pack. 

At the other end of the fair near the intersection of Covert and Tulip Avenue, children could not get enough of the six bouncy castles or rock climbing wall.

Children were treated to an inflatable obstacle course race and the new addition of Toxic Meltdown, which requires players to stand on a small platform as they duck and jump over the rotating foam arms. 

For everything in between, there were over 80 community groups and vendors offering items ranging from exotic beef jerky to vintage T-shirts.