25th Bayfest In Trouble After Money From City Council & Sponsors Comes Up Short

Despite looking forward to their 25th year celebrating on Sheepshead Bay’s waterfront, the organizers of Bayfest say they will likely have to scale down the event due to less-than-anticipated funds from local sponsors and the City Council.

The biggest hole in their budget comes from the City Council. The Bay Improvement Group, the organization behind Bayfest, said they applied for $29,500 — more than double what they received in previous years — from the council’s discretionary funds. However, they only received $10,000 (half from City Councilman Chaim Deutsch and half from the Brooklyn Delegation, records show).

Steve Barrison, president of the Bay Improvement Group, said they applied for more money this year because they had big plans for the 25th Bayfest.

“We’ve never had a grant cut before. We never expected it,” said Barrison. “These things happen. But it would have been nice to know a little earlier.”

Now, instead of featuring almost 20 acts during the day-long party, he says they’ll have funding for three.

“Last time we had bands up and down the waterfront. But we decided that three quality acts will be better than 20 this year,” he said. “But there’s no question we’re going forward. We’re still going to have Sheepshead Bay’s annual party.”

Deutsch said he couldn’t meet the Bay Improvement Group’s full request because he had committed funds for other neighborhood services.

“Lots of organizations apply for discretionary funds,” said Deutsch. “I try to prioritize the needs of my constituents. I give a lot of money for senior services and drug addiction recovery programs.”

The Bay Improvement Group is also behind in finding sponsors. Barrison said they have raised between $2,000 and $3,000 of their $20,000 goal in sponsorships.

Bayfest takes place on Sunday, May 15, from noon to 6pm. The annual block party usually draws well over 100,000 people to Emmons Avenue, who come out to enjoy the waterfront, check out the vendors, and hear the music. Barrison said that, while his organization does not make a profit from the event, they need to cover the cost of setting up the stages, paying the audio technicians, event permits, chairs, equipment and other supplies.

Barrison said the event has been losing sponsors to the Sheepshead Summer Stroll, which takes place within weeks of Bayfest.

“Summer Stroll takes place in the spring. Why are there two events in the spring? It shouldn’t be a competition,” he said.

Barrison encouraged neighbors to volunteer for the event and to recommend local sponsors.

Neighbors who would like to volunteer to support the 25th Annual Bayfest should contact the Bay Improvment Group at BIGBayFest@gmail.com.

You can find out more about this year’s Bayfest by visiting the Bay Improvement Group’s website.