Park Slope's 7th Heaven Music Roars Back: John Jay Jaguars Group

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The beloved Seventh Heaven street festival is coming back with a throwback that'll be music to the ears of longtime Park Slopers.

A live music stage — along with a full lineup of acts — will be in front of John Jay Educational Campus on Seventh Avenue during the already raucous Sunday festival.

The mini-music festival is a revival of when performers belted out tunes by the school in past Seventh Heavens, said organizer Chris Johnson.

Johnson said the event — which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. also will have a pizza eating contest, face painting, carnival games and more — won't just serve as a fundraiser by the Friends of John Jay Jaguars Athletics.

“This fair is also going to serve as a opportunity to do something: bringing the gap between the Park Slope community and the John Jay community,” he said.

An alumnus of the former John Jay High School, Johnson remembers times when ties between the school and its surrounding neighborhood were fraught at best.

But he still values his time and education at the school.

“It really opened my eyes to a lot of opportunities,” he said.

And times have changed.

The building between Fourth and Fifth streets now houses four schools that Johnson said are vastly improving the opportunities for students.

The events organized by the Friends of John Jay Jaguars are free, but proceeds from games, food and drinks will go to its fundraiser for the schools' athletic department.

“I hope it helps breathe some fresh air into the street fair,” Johnson said.

Here's the music schedule, as provided by Friends of John Jay Jaguars Athletics:

• 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Set Up Playlist/The Beyonder
• 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Mr. Marc the MC (Children’s Performer)
• 11:45 – 12:30 p.m. Black Jack Ryan (Children’s Performer)
• 12:30 – 1:15 p.m. The Beyonder (DJ)
• 1:15 – 2:00 p.m. Juan Ma Morales (Latin)
• 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Michael Hill (Blues)
• 2:45 – 3:20 p.m. The Beyonder (DJ)
• 3:20 – 4:05 p.m. The Tin Roof Trio
• 4:05 – 4:40 p.m. Cellarhead (Rock)
• 4:45 – 5:00 p.m. Announcements
• 5:00 – 5:20 p.m. Pizza Eating Contest
• 5:20 – 6:00 p.m. John Jay Performance

Pies for the 5 p.m. pizza eating contest will be provided by Smiling Pizzeria. Contestants will be local bar staff and the watering holes' patrons.

Other food at the festival will be provided by the Dram Shop.

Streetball legend and John Joy alumnus "Black" Jack Ryan will also participate in events, as will local Council Member Shahana Hanif.

More information can be found here.