Get Ready for the 37th Annual Atlantic Antic!

Some things never change. And some others, like a fine wine, an artisan cheese or an aged roast beef, just keep getting better with time.

The Atlantic Antic, Brooklyn's second-largest annual festival, continues to truck on, food trucks and all, for another tremendous year. Celebrating 37 years of mile-long festivities, the Antic is back and better than ever, and as usual there's something for everyone—kids, grownups, grandmas and grandpas included.

"This is amazing this year," said Christian Haag, president of the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC). Despite the sluggish economy, he said, the number and caliber of sponsors this year is remarkable.

Launched in the fall of 1974, the nascent Antic started out as the baby of a group of local merchants, born of a need and a desire to find a solution to the faltering economy.

Like any other large-scale event slated to take place on a busy Brooklyn thoroughfare, it was initially met with some skepticism.

But local merchants and area mainstays like Charlie Sahadi, and owner of , and restauranteur Joel Wolfe managed to generate some support among other local merchants.

And going it has been, having only been thwarted twice over the years; once, in 2001, by cancellation of all street events following the September 11 attacks, and then again in 2002 due to mandatory street closure.

But this Brooklyn beast came stomping back with a vengeance. This year's Antic is expected to draw over a million people, and boasts a mile of over 500 vendors, an array of music, tons of fantastic food, local crafts and much, much more. 

The Antic is also being held just days after Mayor Bloomberg signed into law a bill establishing a Business Improvement District on Atlantic Avenue between the BQE and Fourth Avenue.

Among the usual array of tasty treats are local delicacies like grilled sardines from , Red Hook Lobster Pound lobster rolls, Ale House pulled pork sandwiches and the Avenue's own brew, Sixpoint Atlantic Ale Amber.

"I think we're taking it to a whole new level," said Haag.

This year, there will be eleven stages dedicated to live music from practically every corner of the world, and belly dancing, too. All along the avenue, local vendors will be selling artwork, t-shirts and handmade jewelry, along with major retailers such as and .

There will be the usual children's musical events and entertainment too. And this year, there's also a whole lot of learnin' going on at the children's block between Smith and Boerum streets – Carmelo the Science Fellow will be giving hands-on demonstrations on how to make a (safe) Alka-Seltzer rocket and a (non-toxic) green slime kids can take home at the brand new Magician's Lab.

"My focus for this event is going to be on matter, and the states of matter... Each state of matter will have a specific experiment so that as the kids flow through the exhibit they would have had experimented on a solid, liquid or gas," explained Carmelo.

"They will be very happy!" he added.

If live music, science experiments and a smorgasbord of fantastic foods aren't enough, there will also be ponies – yes, the kids can take pony rides after they've made their own slime, boogied to their favorite bands and gotten their faces painted.

Another first for this year is a ferry service going to and from Atlantic Avenue, which will transport Manhattanites across the pond to the festivities.

"Eat it at Antic, and walk it off on Atlantic," boasts the flier.

Haag said with the participation of so many local vendors, major retailers and sponsors, the Atlantic Antic truly showcases some of the best of what Brooklyn has to offer. And there's always a great turnout from the outerboroughs, Long Island and even New Jersey, he said. Surprisingly, there are not as many visitors from other parts of Brooklyn, especially neighborhoods like Bay Ridge and Sheepshead Bay.

This year, Haag would like to see that change, and he hopes with the addition of so much more great stuff, those folks will be more motivated to see how awesome the rest of their borough is.

"Within the last ten years it's a night and day difference... those stores weren't coming to Atlantic Antic," said Haag. "Atlantic Antic has shown what a great avenue it is."

"We want people from those other neighborhoods to come out and see what a great city we live in," said Haag. "It's about promotion of the avenue. It's a great community, a great neighborhood, everyone's coming out, everyone's having a good time."

The Atlantic Antic is on Sunday, Oct. 2 from noon to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue will be closed to cars and filled with vendors, people, food, music and much more.