Fetes worse than death
Tis the season for the summer fair, the village fete, and as I was yesterday at my second I'm writing a review of sorts. I've been to both several times.
Two very different beasts:
- Event 1. Billed as a 'summer party'. On the temporarily closed main street of the neighbourhood despite there being a huge park at the end of it. Very busy, lots of stalls, a stage, couple of small fairground rides.
- Event 2. More traditionally branded 'village fete and show' on the village green. It's not a village, it's barely even a suburb, it's a neighbourhood all of three miles from the city centre. The show, entertainment, activities, stalls.
The first event funnels everyone up and down a road and feels like a cash grab for all the stalls selling their etsy-level stuff and fifteen-pound styrofoam-wrapped hog roast. There's nowhere to sit or just be. There's nowhere even to talk to people you bump into without being in the way of everyone else. I'm sure the shops on the street get a boost... but they are cut off from the main crowd by all the stalls.
It's on the street I live on so we (my wife and I) go, wander up, wander, get samosas, and go home. Probably half an hour max. My sister won't go, it's too much of a shakedown for money and stressful holding onto small children in the crush.
Versus the fete where we (my wife and I, some niblings, their parents, the other side of their family, my mum popping by from her organising duties) spent four and a half hours hanging out. Joined variously by other people we knew.
There was lots to spend money on at the fete still but because it was on the green, a smallish park, all the usual free play equipment was there too and plenty of space to run around in. You could bring a picnic. Or eat in the village hall where they were serving extremely reasonably priced samosas and chana on actual plates and tea not in disposable cups. The location also means more wholesome activities like the falconry exhibit. A meandering book stall. Henna with its long queues. A tannoy people can actually hear makes a raffle possible.
The 'show' part makes it seem more parochial and Women's Institute but what it actually meant was about a third of the overall event in terms of space and intention was given over to something that anyone could participate in, showing their onions / flower arranging / chutney / flapjack / compost / photography / pizza toppings / scarecrow / wonky veg to the community. Visitors voted on the best scarecrow by putting bottle caps in buckets. One of the scarecrows was of David Attenborough. Prizes are given out, the kids get certificates for their entries.
The other thirds would be the also-free local entertainment (not just a stage you walk past - there were chairs all around and more space) and then the stalls - of which, presumably because it's cheaper pitches, several were charities, there were cheap paperbacks, lots of plants, the handmade tie-dye t-shirts.
So, in conclusion. I don't know why the one on my road has to be on the actual road and not the park that is right there and regularly holds events. It feels like it's just sucking money out of the community and providing only brief entertainment. On the other hand, not to be dismissed just as old-fashioned: actual community involvement, free stuff to do, space to hang out, attempts at sustainability - all good stuff much appreciated and to be encouraged.