Fall Street Faire discontinued after nearly two decades

(1-minute read)

The Reading Rotary Club has announced it will no longer host the Reading Fall Street Faire, ending a nearly 20-year community tradition.

In a letter to the community, Rotary leaders said the decision followed careful consideration of rising costs that have outpaced the time, effort, and fundraising needed to sustain the event. The Town of Reading handed organizing duties to the Rotary in 2017, and the club initially stabilized the Faire while growing both registration and sponsorship. In recent years, however, that growth has leveled off even as expenses continue to climb, making the event no longer viable for the club to manage. A shrinking pool of volunteers to plan and run the Faire compounded the challenge.

The Rotary is an entirely volunteer-run organization, and proceeds from the Faire have gone toward the club’s charitable and community causes.

Club leaders thanked the hundreds of volunteers who supported the Street Faire over its history, along with the Town of Reading, the Department of Public Works, and its current and past Highway Supervisors, and the Reading Police and Fire Departments, including their current and past Chiefs, for their partnership and work keeping the event safe and successful.

“Reading is fortunate to have such dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to make this community the best it can be,” the Rotary shared on Facebook.

The Reading Rotary Club thanked the community for its understanding and continued support of the club’s mission.