Street Fair Ignores Rain

By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — August 1, 2000 – Despite the gray clouds overhead, scores of people made their way to Callicoon Saturday for the annual Street Fair.
Even though an early morning shower scared away about half of the 65 vendors that planned to sell their wares at the street fair, those that remained saw a somewhat steady stream of potential customers saunter along the hamlet’s Main Street.
The vendors offered a little something for everyone. A walk along the street allowed fairgoers a chance to purchase tie-dyed t-shirts, homemade jewelry, books, children’s lunchboxes, metal flower plant holders and cotton candy, among other items.
The crowd and vendors also enjoyed the folk music of the group “Fiddlin’ Around.” Some of the people even danced in the street as the musicians played many familiar tunes.
Though attendance was down from the 1999 street fair, which was held on a bright, sunny day, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“It turned out pretty well,” noted Callicoon Business Association President Robert Hoffer, who owns the “Romance of the Southwest” store, which sells Native American items. “You can’t control the weather. But there are people here, and this at least lets them know that Callicoon is here and we have things to offer.”
Hoffer added that the CBA, which sponsors the annual street fair, had a rain date picked out, but that the majority of vendors he spoke to Saturday morning said they had customers and wanted to continue the fair in spite of the gray skies and threat of rain.
One of the most popular spots at the street fair was the book sale in front of the Delaware Free Library, now part of the Western Sullivan Public Library system. People of all ages scanned the boxes of books, looking for just the right piece of literature to take their mind on a wonderful adventure.
“We are doing very well today,” said volunteer and former Delaware Free Library Director Lynn Nalven. “Book people always come out. No matter the weather, they want to find some good books.”
Helping keep the street safely blocked off for pedestrians were the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and several students from the Delaware Valley Job Corps. DVJCC Security Trade Instructor Monique Gale-Messina and her group of students – Kisha Brogues, Alan Coleman, Lanika Fonville, Luz Mojica, Tamarie Rivera and Angel Wells – also assisted people in finding places to park and other drivers who needed to bypass Main Street on their way to another destination.