The Bordentown Street Fair held in the downtown area of Bordentown City has been a mainstay in the community since 1977.
That annual tradition hit a snag the last few years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The street fair was unable to take place in both 2020 and 2021.
Finally the time came for the street fair to return this past weekend for its 43rd edition, and it was its “biggest year” yet, as Burlington Mercer Chamber of Commerce President Bill Ryan said.
Between 10,000-12,000 people from the Bordentown community and nearby areas came to experience all the fun the street fair had to offer with around 120 vendors on hand.
“It was great,” Ryan said about the 43rd annual Bordentown Street Fair. “We had two great days. It was a little warm, but everyone had a good time. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Ryan and the rest of his colleagues on the Burlington Mercer Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors helped organize the 2022 edition of the Bordentown Street Fair that was held May 21-22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors of all different kinds were on hand for people to explore at the street fair, which also included family activities and live entertainment.
Local music and dance schools such as the Rising Stars Voice Studio, the Serendipity Dance Studio, the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, the Harmonie Dance Studio and the Princeton School of Rock performed for guests during the festivities.
The final day of the street fair offered guests a special treat with lead guitarist Vince Martell of the rock band Vanilla Fudge on hand for a live performance.
Martell was his wife, PBS artist Peg Pearl, were joined by a group of fellow musicians to perform Vanilla Fudge’s hit song, “Young Keep Me Hanging On.”
“We had great music,” Ryan said.
An ax throwing station, a magician and a variety of arts and crafts stations were a part of the activities.
Grandmaster S.L. Martin, who is the director and chief of the Green Dragon Chinese Martial Arts School, also performed a live martial arts demonstration.
Other activities included the Armed Forces Heritage Museum’s mobile military history unit, allowing the guests the opportunity to learn more about the military history of New Jersey and the Bordentown area.
Ryan, who has helped organize the street for the last 10 years, said the best part about the event coming back was seeing everybody enjoying the festivities together.
“It was a good feeling,” Ryan said. “Everybody wanted to come out and got to see people they haven’t gotten a chance to get together with in a while.”
The 43rd annual Bordentown Street Fair was the biggest year the event has ever had. Ryan said the 44th edition of the street fair will be even “bigger and better” next year with the Bordentown community back to holding its annual family-fun event.