Save the date! July 7th will be the 63rd annual Wallingford Seafair Kiddies Parade, but the “Street Fair” part will be getting a new name and location. Instead of shutting down and occupying Wallingford Ave below 45th, the “Wallingford Family Fair” will be held at Wallingford Playfield (the park at 42nd / 43rd and Wallingford Ave). The hours will be the same, 10 AM – 5:00 PM on July 7th and will still feature crafts, food, live music, and activities for the kids.
The parade route will change, as well, it will form up at Corliss and N. 45th, as it has previously, and will travel west on 45th to Wallingford Ave, but then will turn down Wallingford Ave to the playfield instead of continuing down 45th.
What more info? Call 206-632-3165 or email [email protected].
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Those directions don’t make sense – I assume the first “Wallingford Ave” should actually read, “west on 45th St.” But the playfield isn’t on Wallingford, it’s on Meridian – surely the parade is not going to close down 50th to loop around?
The park on Wallingford and 43rd near Hamilton is technically called Wallingford Playfield. It is a park with a turf field and play and picnic areas. Dogs on leashes.
That’s too bad that this will no longer be a street fair. Any idea why that’s changing?
Perhaps because it’s uncomfortable and dirty to perch on the curb while trying to eat. I think that having it closer to the park will allow people to get food and head into the park where there are picnic benches and grass. I think that it’s a great improvement!
Bad idea. Wonder how it was decided? I think that park is way too small for such an event. The turf will be damaged, the toddler playground will have older kids and adults on play equipment designed for small kids. And trash and crap will be everywhere. yes, the directions do not make any sense as written.
The Wallingford Neighborhood Office typically provides additional recycling containers to deal with the extra trash. There’s no reason that “trash and crap will be everywhere” as long as people use the containers.
well, they can design the use of the street and playground to minimize bad effects on the grass. maybe some street area will get used. Also is this in lieu of the festival which was held at this park later in summer last year? A lovedancemusic fest thing?
Hello Neighbors,
The big reason we are moving the fair to the park is this: the streetfair is great fun, but it has never really had any “legs” as an event. That is, people come through in the hour or so after the parade, but it tends to die out significantly after that . We think this is largely due to the street being not such a great place to hang out for any length of time (see the comment above, about eating while perched on the curb).
We thought if it were at the park, there would be a range of things that would appeal to the full spectrum of Wallingford residents. It makes sense to me; though my kids are older now, we would spend hours at a time at the park, running into other parents, kids, friends from the neighborhood, etc. And there wasn’t even a a bunch of crafters and food trucks there! What if there were? Could be pretty fun. Anyway, we’re giving it a go, and if it does not work we’ll switch it back. Thanks, y’all, and anyone want to coordinate the Parade this year?
Joe Hurley
President, Wallingford Neighborhood Association.
More reasons for moving the Street Fair into the Park:
Saturday is the biggest businesses day of the week for the small businesses on Wallingford Ave. and in Wallingford Center. But they lose that business when we have the street fair there. So by moving the fair, the street is only closed for half a day for the Parade.
We can have an actual stage for the music
It will be more comfortable for the families
There will be room to expand activities and the number of booths
Kids can play in the pool and at the fair both
I think this is a great idea. It will be wonderful to have the parade and then be able to retire to the softness of the park for the after party. Kudos to the Wallingford Neighborhood Association, Wallingford Chamber and everyone else involved in organizing this!
I run OmCulture in SE Wallingford. I would love to set up a large play area where kids can come and bounce on mini-trampolines, crawl through tunnels, hoola-hoop, tumble, etc. Who I would I talk to about this?