The annual event, which is completely free, features rides, games, face painting and a petting zoo and seems to get more popular each year.
Hundreds of parents and kids lined up around the block before the doors officially opened at 11 a.m. The bank estimates that 7,000 people attended the five-hour event.
“The motivation is really to give something back to the community, especially the kids,” said bank CEO and president Ken Rudzewick. “We are trying to improve it each year.”
This year featured more live entertainment on more stages, including musicians, circus performers and even a sideshow.
Rudzewick said Smile on Maspeth Day started six years ago as a way to get people's minds off the worsening economy.
“Those were really tough economic times, and a lot of people were skipping vacations and entertainment to save money,” he said. “So we thought for at least one day we would provide the entertainment.”