44th Annual Victorian Fair Arrives This Sunday!
By Ellen Putnam
Last year's Victorian Fair
All of Melrose is preparing for everyone’s favorite annual event! The Victorian Fair will take place this Sunday (September 7th) on Main Street between 11am and 4pm. Visitors will enjoy booths with activities for all ages, street food, entertainment, and the chance to spend time with neighbors and friends.
This year’s Victorian Fair is dedicated to the memory of Joan Bell, a lifelong Melrosian who served as Superintendent of Parks for over two decades before she passed away suddenly earlier this year, just a few months into her retirement.
“The response has been overwhelming,” said Stephanie Nelson, the Executive Director of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the Victorian Fair. “Joan’s family has been so touched by all the positive messages. I think there’s going to be a really big crowd at center stage when we announce the dedication and open the fair.”
Joan Bell, center, with four Melrose mayors
Photo From Melrose Chamber of Commerce
While this year’s fair will not feature amusement rides, there will still be plenty for all ages to enjoy: pony rides next to Hugo’s Appliances (which organizes the ride, along with several other local businesses); face painting, henna tattoos, and balloon artists; and, of course, activities run by many local businesses and organizations at booths all along Main Street. (Nelson noted that not having the amusement rides in the parking lot between Main Street and Grove Street will also free up that parking for fairgoers.)
The entertainment at the fair’s center stage, in front of the Knights of Columbus, will offer a variety of acts to appeal to many audience members - everything from dance performances and local musicians to a professional illusionist. And Dance Gallery will be reprising their popular flash mob from last year, where they invite anyone who has danced with the studio at any point during their 50 years of operation to join the performance.
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
“We have a ton of new businesses joining the fair this year,” Nelson added. The Kitchen will be bringing back their wildly popular smashburgers in front of Hugo’s Appliances (which sold out during this year’s Summer Stroll). Nearby, the Masons will be making s’mores. Turner’s Seafood will be serving outside, and Hannah’s Brewing will feature a barbeque pop-up after the fair ends at 4pm. Del’s Lemonade, the new Inspire Cafe in Wakefield, and the La Cabana food truck will be just a few of the many food vendors on the street.
Armstrong Ambulance, the city’s new ambulance provider, will be bringing two ambulances to the fair, said Nelson: “one will be for safety, and one will be for the kids to tour. There will be giveaways and they’ll show how the ambulance works. That should be a really fun one.”
The fair will also feature the annual Big Ticket Raffle, which includes prizes from local businesses: Melrose Oriental Rug, Perella Jewelers, the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, local restaurants, and more. And this year, any raffle purchaser who is present when their ticket is drawn at the end of the fair will be able to choose from all of the available prizes, providing raffle purchasers with an extra incentive to stay until the end of the fair.
Anyone who bikes to the fair can take advantage of the Ped-Bike Committee's free bike valet service on East Foster Street, and The Ride Cafe will be offering $10 on-the-spot bike tune-ups.
The Chamber of Commerce’s four big annual events - the Summer Stroll, the Victorian Fair, Main Street Trick or Treat, and Home for the Holidays - rely on support from the city’s Department of Public Works, the Melrose Police Department, and the Melrose Fire Department in order to temporarily close Main Street to cars and turn it into a pedestrian-friendly event space.
“We are so grateful for the ongoing partnership with the city,” said Nelson.
And we can’t wait to see everyone at the fair on Sunday!
