All's Fair: Summer Street Fairs

JULY 22, 2008

Summer street fairs: fun on a stick
Mmm…what's that scent wafting in your window or past you as you run to catch the bus? It's the ubiquitous summertime sensory celebration known as the New York City street fair. Whether you treasure the opportunity to buy a new supply of gym-socks-by-the-pound, some really cheap sunglasses or you just wish they wouldn't block off the streets, you're bound to come across at least a few in or near your neighborhood.

City street fairs are all about community pride and old-fashioned fun.The Grandaddy of them all, of course, is the Feast of San Gennaro, which happens in Septermber in Manhattan's Little Italy. A traditon among New Yorkers of Italian descent, this year's festival will feature parades, live music and even a cannoli-eating contest.

In general, street fairs are run by a wide variety of community and neighborhood organizations to raise money and awareness for their groups or for charities they sponsor—so every hot dog goes toward a good cause (so the calories don't count). Sometimes they'll highlight art or other local community offerings that can't be found elsewhere. Ethnic community parades often have street fairs afterwards (Dominican Republic Day, African American Day, for example), so a tasty variety of ethnic food is guaranteed, though it's also a given that most will involve oil, frying and probably a stick. Which is, of course, part of the fun.

Find out when the fair hits your block:
http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/julystreetfairs.htm

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All's Fair: Summer Street Fairs

JULY 22, 2008

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