Union Avenue · Williamsburg, Brooklyn
UWAN
STREET FESTIVAL
A weekend of live music, sausage & peppers, questionable henna tattoos, and one very serious mission: raising money for neighborhood dogs who need a home.
Saturday–Sunday, August 8–9, 2026 · 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM · Rain or Shine
Festival starts in
Est. 2009
A neighborhood tradition, technically
The UWAN Street Festival began in 2009 when a coalition of block association members, two off-duty crossing guards, and a very persuasive bodega cat closed down four blocks of Union Avenue for the first time. Eighteen years later, the tradition continues: one Saturday every August, the avenue fills with folding tables, extension cords, and the smell of frying dough.
Every dollar collected from vendor fees, raffle tickets, and the infamous dunk tank goes directly to the Union Avenue Dog Shelter Alliance (UADSA), a volunteer-run shelter network that has found homes for over 600 dogs since the festival's founding. This part, we want to be extremely clear, is not a joke.
"I have personally attended seventeen of the eighteen UWAN Festivals. I missed one for jury duty. I have never regretted the other seventeen." — Marjorie Alcántara, Community Board 1, District Manager (Ret.)
Main Stage, corner of Union & Devoe · Same lineup both days
2026 Lineup
The Good Boys Brass Band
Nine-piece brass ensemble. All members own a dog. This is a requirement, not a coincidence.
DJ Bodega Cat
Vinyl-only set. Will not take requests. Will absolutely play "Blue Monday" at 1:45 anyway.
Sal & The Parking Regulations
Local alt-country act named after Sal's ongoing dispute with alternate side parking.
The Union Ave Howl-Alongs
Fan favorite
A folk trio joined onstage by shelter dogs available for adoption. Bring tissues.
Big Frank's Wedding Band (No Wedding)
They play weddings for a living. Today, mercifully, there is no wedding. Just the hits.
Closing Ceremony & Raffle Draw
Grand prize: a year of dog walking, donated by three separate dog walkers who refuse to coordinate.
Food, Wares & Questionable Fortune-Telling
Vendors on the Avenue
Saturday–Sunday, August 8–9, 2026 · Same schedule both days
Day-of Schedule
- 11:00 AMRibbon cutting — ribbon held by last year's Best Dressed Dog winner
- 11:30 AMMain stage opens — The Good Boys Brass Band
- 12:00 PMVendor row fully operational; dunk tank line begins
- 2:00 PMBest Dressed Dog Pageant — registration closes 1:30 PM sharp
- 4:00 PMThe Union Ave Howl-Alongs, featuring adoptable shelter dogs
- 6:30 PMBake sale final markdowns — everything half off
- 7:30 PMRaffle drawing on the main stage
- 8:00 PMFestival closes; street sweeping resumes 8:15 PM sharp
The Actual Point of All This
Meet a few dogs looking for a home
Every vendor fee, raffle ticket, and dunk-tank dunk funds the Union Avenue Dog Shelter Alliance. These three will be at the UADSA adoption booth on festival day.
Meatball
Found napping under a vendor table at last year's festival. Has not been in a hurry since.
Duchess
Will be defending her title this year. Expects a rematch. Expects you to bring a snack.
Deputy
Barks once when someone hits the target. Has never missed a shift.
With Thanks To
2026 Sponsors
Frequently Asked
Questions People Actually Ask
Is this a real, city-permitted event?
Yes. Street Activity Permit #SAP-2026-04471, filed with the NYC Street Activity Permit Office by the UWAN Festival Committee. The permit is taped to the inside of the community center window if you'd like to see it in person.
Is it free to attend?
Yes, entry is free. Food, raffle tickets, and dunk tank attempts cost money, and all of that money goes to the dog shelter fund.
Can I bring my dog?
Strongly encouraged. Best Dressed Dog registration opens at 11 AM at the UADSA booth.
What happens if it rains?
Nothing. It says "rain or shine" directly above. The brass band owns ponchos.
Where does the money actually go?
100% of net proceeds go to the Union Avenue Dog Shelter Alliance. The committee publishes a summary annually at the closing ceremony, read aloud, whether or not anyone is still listening.
Help the dogs. Show up Aug 8–9.
Donate ahead of time, volunteer a shift at the dunk tank, or just come hungry. Every bit funds the shelter.