Street Fairs And Retronomic Development

Street fairs are helping neglected neighborhoods rebuild commercial corridors in San Francisco's South of Market areas. These areas are mostly overlooked by the tourists and even forgotten by San Franciscans.

Dedicated groups have been working with the city and non-profits to bring new life to the main streets of these city sections. With a variety of weekend festivals and other measures, local residents are revitalizing their neighborhoods by bringing residents and merchants together.

Marisa Lagos, in her San Francisco Chronicle article, writes about the renewal of several SOMA communities after several years of successful street fairs. She credits the rebirth of these localities to the support of the San Francisco Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative and the grassroots level commitment of the residents themselves.

She also cites that City Supervisors and grants and staffing help from the Local Initiatives Support Coalition have been key to the turnaround.

Street fairs, indeed, are a simple way to help pull a community together.

We here, in my hometown of Lakeport, CA, continue to build the community with our own street fair with the sponsorship of the Lakeport Chamber of Commerce and other local sponsors.
We are preparing for our 6th annual Dickens Market street fair, on November 29th, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Main Street will be closed to cars for the space of 3 blocks in the retail area, allowing only foot traffic for the entire day. Craft and food booths will be put up on both sides of the street.Vendors from all parts of the North West will bring their goods for sale.

There will be an entertainment stage, which has continuous musical acts, numerous street performances, done by local actors and a Santa's Village with kiddie crafts will be set up on the town green. This will be sponsored again by the Wellness Center of our local hospital.

In the past, we have had a good turnout of costumed revelers to help set the tone of the day. They spend their time parading the street, singing carols and lending a general festive air to the day.

The evening's activity is the annual lighted Christmas Parade which brings everyone out in the brisk evening to watch the lighting of the Lakeport's official Christmas Tree in the park next to the historic County Courthouse building, now a museum. Our chapter of Hospice will be offering lights in remembrance fo loved ones lost.

If you just happen to be in the neighborhood, stop on by and see how this street fair brings the residents of this community together and helps to start the Season off. I'm sure you will leave with a warm smile and a glad heart.

See you here.