Tremendous Turnout For Fall Street Faire

Certainly all 25,000-plus Reading residents weren't on Haven Street Sunday afternoon. But if they were, could you blame them?

Under sunny skies on a near perfect day, Reading held its 9th annual Fall Street Faire Sunday. Presented by the Reading Rotary Club, the event seems to grow every year and Sunday's turnout was proof.

The day started with a 5k road race at 8:30 a.m. The winner was 37-year-old Daniel Princic of Reading who finished in 17:07. In second was Reading's Patrick Mahoney (17:13), followed by Reading's Shane Karzac in third (18:42). For the women, 38-year-old Alison Connelly of Reading won in 21:01. Second place went to Reading's Erica McLean in 21:15, followed by Reading's Andrea Guanci in 21:34.

From there the day, and Haven Street, had a little of everything.

There was police chief Mark Segalla locked up and asking for money for Understanding Disabilities, and later it was fire chief Greg Burns. There was entertainment, from the main stage next to the depot, to a stage adjacent Town Hall on Woburn Street. There was politics, with everyone from Senator Jason Lewis, to the Yes For Reading supporters, whose familiar orange and blue signs were back, along with a new date (April 3) written on a piece of tape. And there was food beyond your wildest cravings. From Harrows chicken pie to Cupcake City's offerings you gained weight just by walking down Haven.

Officials estimated the crowd would hit 15,000, leaving just one question. Where did the other 10,000 residents go?

Photos by Bob Holmes