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Festivities Rock Park StreetBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Tuesday, August 02, 2005
 | | Steepleview Realty sponsored a wading-pool fishing game that offered opportunities to catch a prize during a Park Street street fair. |
Adams – Call it a “street fair,†dub it “hi jinks night,†but either way, an Aug. 2 Park Street festival was a genuine “fun-for-all “ event.
Three live bands provided a rocking backdrop for the event. “Fly By Night†performed near the McKinley statue, while “Misty Blues†set up in front of the Firehouse Café. The “Champagne Jam†trio kept many bodies in motion from their street-side set-up near the Town Hall.
Dancers from the Berkshire Dance Theater and Karen’s School of Dance delivered performances during the evening, and a dunking booth proved popular as fair revelers lined up for a chance to send Tony Piscioneri of the town police department and Alert Hose Co., Patty Szukala of the Adams Co-Operative Bank, town Selectwoman Myra Wilk, Ben Icquista of the Daily Grind, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Athletic Director Scott Nichols, Steve Jankowski of the South Adams Savings Bank, and area contractor Larry Pandell into a chilly water barrel.
"Innies" and "Outies"
Park Street merchants talked about the fair prior to its’ 6 p.m. start time.
For those merchants whose businesses are new to Park Street, the event was their first opportunity to participate. Jessica Harris, whose family owns the Court Side Diner, and Dee Superneau, co-owner of the Firehouse Café, said that they were excited about the fair.
Superneau said that the café would welcome fair patrons inside the restaurant and offer a limited menu during the event.
Marla LaVigne brought her pet iguana named "Sadie" to the fair. |
“We could have set something up outside but we wanted to be able to contain the alcoholic beverages,†she said. “This is our first year with the fair and we didn’t want to have anything turn out wrong for our first year.â€
Harris and co-worker Kayleigh Potter planned to alternate outdoor and indoor server duties. Potter said she’s attended previous street fairs; Harris said that the event would be her first experience with the fair in any context.
“I’ve never even seen what it is, so I’m really looking forward to it,†she said.
Mysterious Wonders shop owner Dick Alves set up a small sidewalk merchandise display, but planned to conduct most business inside the store. Alves said that the fair brings increased revenues to his shop.
“We do quite well during the fair,†he said. “It sometimes seems that there are people who only come to Adams once a year, and that’s for the street fair.â€
Alves said that bringing people inside the shop for transactions is beneficial for his small business.
“It can be difficult to be out on the street and have the store opened at the same time with just one person doing it all,†he said.
Children’s games such as basketball tossing and wading pool fishing were scattered along the street and bevy of vendors set up on either side of the roadway. Fund-raiser booths occupied space; the Alert Hose Co. and organizers of C.T. Plunkett elementary school library improvement and school beautification project fundraisers were among those on the street.
As the crowd grew along the street, so did a festival atmosphere, and moments of merriment were observed from one end of the street to the other.
Come See What Kathy's Wearing
And there was a bit of a “tease†for an Aug. 3 Victorian Lawn Party set to occur on the Town Hall lawn.
Barb Mazzacco and Kathy Matte were reminders of an Aug. 3 Victorian Lawn Party scheduled to occur at the Town Hall lawn. |
Kathy Matte and Barb Mazzacco sat at a small tea table demurely attired in vintage clothing to promote the final Susan B. Anthony Days event. When Matte, who is noted for her sewing skills, was asked if she’d created the lacy, ivory-colored gown she wore, she said that she hadn’t designed the dress.
Mazzacco immediately spoke up.
“Come to the lawn party,†she said. “Just wait ‘til you see what she’s wearing for that.â€
“You won’t be able to miss me,†said Matte.
A multi-photograph Park Street Street Fair slideshow will be posted during the upcoming week at www.iberkshires.com.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net or at 802-823-9367.
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