On Sunday, September 9, the Reading Rotary put on the 2018 Reading Fall Street Faire. This year's Faire was a resounding success. Approximately 170 vendors and community groups set up booths along the Faire route on Haven, Main, High, Chute, Linden and Sanborn Streets in Downtown Reading. There was entertainment all day on two stages, one or Main Street and one on High Street. Other features were many blow up apparatuses for the children set up around the route. Other featured areas were: the Children's Area at the Reading Coop parking lot, a Car Show, NFL Tailgate, 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, Cornhole Tournament, flash mobs, food and drinks and much more. The day was kicked off with a 5K Road Race starting at Washington Park.2018 was the 10th Annual RFSF and the second presented by Reading Rotary. A special shout out to the great team who planned the day: Rotarians Sheila Clarke and Gregg Johnson, Co-Chairs, Ed Sartell, Kathi Spurr, KC Latham and community volunteer Bob Beckman. The Town of Reading starting the Fall Faire to help with business development and downtown beautification. In 2017 the Town asked Rotary to take on the running of the huge annual event.
The amount of volunteer participation by from community members, Rotarians and their family members was overwhelming. An impressive number of volunteers rolled up their sleeves to participate. So many people helped including Boy Scout Troops 702 & 728 with the set up and tear down, Samantha's Harvest Club at the Children's Area. It was a real community effort to bring together a magical community event.
The weather cooperated, too. There was a fall chill in the air, but no rain or wind.
The crowd of attendees was estimated around 14,000. This was a great day for Reading and for Rotary and was enjoyed by so many.