MayFest Street Fair Planned as Biggest Ever

In 2002, I attended Maplewood MayFest in Maplecrest Park. I sat with a friend and my infant son on a blanket in the grass and watched children bounce in one inflated castle as a line of tables filled with information and goods from local businesses snaked along the park path.

MayFest has come a long way, baby.

Last year, the fair, which has since moved to Springfield Avenue, featured multiple rides and musical acts, 70-plus vendors, face painters, balloons, and throngs of people pushing strollers, eating, dancing and soaking up the vibe until raindrops brought the event to an end.

Tomorrow promises uninterruptedly sunny skies.

The Springfield Avenue Partnership (SAP) is promising that the 9th annual MayFest will include more than 75 local vendors, artists, crafters and civic associations, in addition to live music and demonstrations, rides and activities for the kids, plus "great food representing the diverse community that lives, works, shops and dines along Maplewood's Springfield Avenue."

A new feature of the event will be drawings for gift certificates donated by businesses and restaurants in the Springfield Avenue  commercial district. Winners will be announced throughout the fair. A complete list of participating businesses are posted on the SAP web site, www.springfieldavenue.com.

Another addition is the final of the Men's Open Saber competition of the 4^th Annual Danny Bukantz Tournament taking brought to Springfield Avenue courtesy of the New Jersey Fencing Alliance (NJFA) which is located here in Maplewood on Burnett Avenue.

Finally, MayFest 2010 will also include the first annual Classic Car Show as part of the celebration. The cars will be displayed on Springfield Avenue between Indiana and Princeton streets

MayFest 2010 rain date is Sunday, May 23, 2010.

For more details about MayFest, including artists and entertainers, plus times and locations for performances and demonstrations, visit the Springfield Avenue Partnership's web site, www.springfieldavenue.com. The main stage lineup as of midnight May 16 is:

11:00 AM Moroccan Sheepherders

12:00 PM Mood Ring

12:15 PM StingRay from StarFish

1:00 PM Jazz Patrol

1:30 PM Deena

2:00 PM David Easton

2:30 PM The Jimmy Lee Duo

3:00 PM Vic Della Pello Band

4:00 PM Mophat