Kid Reporter Nathan Kahn went to the Family Festival Street Fair during the 5th Annual Tribeca Film Festival on May 6, 2006 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images for TFF)

Saturday, May 6—The Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair is an annual event that is held by the organizers of the Tribeca Film Festival to celebrate the local community. This year's event was a jumble of people, food stands, and entertainment—it was a daylong, family-friendly celebration that packed in plenty of fun!

First, there were activities for everyone. Kids of all ages could find something to do, from face-painting to arcade games to kite-making, which was my personal favorite. For a dollar, you could make your own kite. How cool is that?

There was also quite a range of entertainment. Broadway actors from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Wedding Singer performed, as well as a chorus of young kids from P.S. 150. One thing I especially liked, though, was the number of independent musicians taking to the stage. One of these performers was named MistaRuddy (Matthew Ruddy), a middle-school music teacher (my teacher, in fact) who moonlights as a singer-songwriter in shows around the city.

(Photo: Getty Images for TFF)

That's not all the festival had to offer. Tech students from Stuyvesant High School offered a robotics workshop/demonstration. Clowns and musicians entertained the crowd while walking on stilts. Dancing double-Dutchers displayed impressive routines. The coolest thing though, was the woman who used a bunch of hula hoops at the same time.

I spent five hours just wandering around, as did thousands of New York residents. With free popcorn, engaging entertainment, and fabulous food, the fair was truly a fun event.