Downtown Fargo Street Fair returns with new features

FARGO — Planning for the Downtown Fargo Street Fair usually starts just days after the previous Street Fair ends, but with the 2020 event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event has been in the works for a while longer.

All the extra planning comes to fruition when the three-day event kicks off at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 15, along Broadway.

“It’s really exciting to bring back this community event,” says Lora Larson, development coordinator for the Downtown Community Partnership.

The annual event draws about 150,000 people downtown each year.

The Street Fair will feature about 200 arts and crafts vendors as well as food trucks and stands.

Not only will the Street Fair return this year, the addition of Block 9 and the Jasper Hotel also includes Broadway Square as an open space for events.

“Broadway Square is basically the entertainment center of the Street Fair,” Larson says.

The space will include the water spouts, a petting zoo, pop-up sample stops, theatrical showcases, games and activities and music at night, including a return for the country/rock band The Gear Daddies at 7 p.m. Thursday.

“That brings a whole new crowd downtown,” Larson says. “Not everyone will come down shopping for crafts, but some may come downtown to enjoy some music.”

Another big draw is the food courts, which will be moved south on Broadway, between Main and NP Avenue, and between NP and First Avenue N.

“I tend to go for the corndogs. That’s my guilty pleasure,” Larson says.

She’s also excited about some of the new vendors, like Windsor Waffles, a British street treat on a stick with a number of available sweet toppings.

“We’re super excited,” says owner Iby Nemati, owner of Windsor Waffles.

He started the company in the fall of 2019, and was looking forward to setting up in various festivals in 2020 until the pandemic canceled them. Getting onto the Downtown Street Fair is a major accomplishment for the company.

“Right now, we want to get into as many events as we can. These next few weeks are absolutely insane for us,” he says, adding that he’ll be bringing his stand down to Detroit Lakes for WE Fest in August.

For the Street Fair, he’s adding star sprinkles to the list of available waffle toppers.

One thing missing this year will be misting tents or cooling stations, but Larson encourages visitors to step inside some of the brick and mortar stores for a breath of fresh air.

“There are also lots of restaurants and shops downtown. Go in and support the local restaurants and shops and grab a little air conditioning there” she says.