Community Corner

Meeting the May Fair Makers

On the 34th anniversary of the borough's bread-and-butter attraction, Patch talks to the organizers who grew May Fair from a local art show into a 50,000-guest block party.

Back in 1979, the Collingswood May Fair was little more than a clothesline exhibit of local art, said organizer Jerry Chambers.

There was no classic auto show in the early days. In fact, there wasn't even enough traffic to warrant closing off nearby roads. 

In the 1990s, Chambers said, event organizers looking to boost attendance tried to capitalize on America's fleeting fitness movement and added a 5K race.

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The finish line was up on Collings Avenue so that it would drop runners off in the heart of the event.

When rollerblading became popular, May Fair also had one of the biggest outdoor skating races outside of New York City, he said—"what[ever] we could do to draw people from out of town.

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Within about 15 years, Chambers said, May Fair had exploded from 10,000 attendees to 40,000 and 50,000. Its popularity grew with its reputation as a weekend event that could be enjoyed without dominating the Memorial Day holiday.

"Word started to spread that this was a one-day event," Chambers said. "Get in, get out, get your weekend."

Finally, he said, "it got so big that we had to cut the race out."

Mary Marker, who books vendors for May Fair, said that artists travel from Connecticut, the Carolinas and everywhere in between for the one-day show—and she turns away as many as 20 to 26 every year.

Top bands from just about as far away perform at multiple stages, says Sam Caruso of Arts Plus, who coordinates the music for the event.

Blessedly, Caruso said, in 34 years, May Fair—which is funded by the Collingswood business improvement district (BID) tax—has only seen rain about three times. But they were memorable.

"[At] 4:00 in the afternoon, we were up there playing away [in a] major lightning storm," Caruso said.

It wasn't the first time lightning struck at May Fair, either. Chambers said he's seen "a few people who came for this event and bought a house" in Collingswood because of it.

"[The borough] has that character and charm," he said.

That same infectious energy is what draws volunteers by the dozens to contribute to putting on the event, Chambers said, including officers from the Collingswood Police and Fire Departments; borough staffers like Marker, the borough Zoning Board secretary; and Terry Seeley, who oversees Collingswood Partners, the borough BID.

Longtime Collingswood business owners like Mike DiBartolo of DiBartolo Bakery and Independent Alarm's Paul Kerth, who also helps with the Collingswood holiday parade, are among other key May Fair organizers.

The biggest block party of the summer, as the borough has dubbed it, is still powered by volunteers, and Chambers doesn't stand on ceremony: the civic-minded can earn a t-shirt and a bite to eat for their efforts by showing up to the Collingswood Community Center at 6 a.m. Saturday, he said.

From the borough announcement:

Many volunteers are needed the day of the event. People are needed to help with crafter arrival, serve as gateway attendants, staff the Information Booth, set up, break down, general clean up, just to name a few.

If you can help out for a few hours the day of the event (May 25), contact Pat Ciervo at 609-868-2185 or by email at PCiervo@MainStRealty.com.

Marker bottom-lines it thus: May Fair "makes living in Collingswood a great thing.

"You want to keep it going," she said.


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