The 15th annual Mt. Airy Village Fair, a volunteer, community-led event, is set to return this year on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The fair will take place on the 500 and 600 blocks of Carpenter Lane and the 6800 and 6900 blocks of Greene Street in West Mt. Airy, an area known as "The Village."

According to Arianna Neromiliotis, one of the organizers, "The neighborhood festival will return with a bustling streetscape of food, music, vendors and interactive activities. It is a resurrection of a festival inspired by the idea that the local craftspeople and businesspeople are so talented that they deserve a place to showcase their skills and talents and share them with the community."

The event has garnered significant local support, with various levels of sponsorship. "Presenting Sponsors" of the event (those who donated $1,000) are Weavers Way Co-op and Neighborhood Contracting. "Sponsors" ($500 donations) include Philly Office Retail, The Nesting House, Big Blue Marble Bookstore and W.P.M. Typewriter Shop. "Neighbor and Friend" sponsors ($100 donations) include Arianna Neromiliotis, Ashley Robin Netanel, High Point Cafe, Get Fresh Daily, Jason Henschen, Lauren Clark Dale, Maia Kunzman, RenCrafts and Wild Hand.

Last year, about 1,000 people visited the fair, and more are expected this year. A committee of 10 local residents has been meeting regularly since the spring to plan the event, and about 50 volunteers have signed up to help out on the day of the fair. Last year's theme was "The Magic of Cooperation," while this year's theme is "Mt. Airy Rocks."

The fair will feature a variety of food vendors dispensing their goodies, including 2 Street Sammies, Hardy Funnel Cakes, Frios Popsicles, Korea Taqueria, Farina Pasta and Smoke Break Barbecue. There may be more vendors confirmed after our deadline.

Entertainment will be provided on three stages throughout the event. The C.W. Henry Stage will host performances by RuffBand/Steve Hastie, Circus School, Nikki Paulino, Henry School Showcase, and Samba Afro-Brazilian Drumming. The Carpenter West Stage will feature Free to be Dance, Philadelphia Dance Theater, a pie-eating contest, and Rain Dance Studio. The Village Stage will showcase talents such as Cecilia Ferneborg, Frickinadorable, Molly Lux, Kentu and friends, Luther Bangert, and Devon Love.

This year's event also marks the 51st anniversary of Weavers Way Co-op, honoring the mission of a nonprofit whose roots go back to a pre-order food buying group that started five decades ago in the basement of Summit Presbyterian Church in West Mt. Airy.

Liz Sytsma, a longtime Mt. Airy resident and the owner of Wild Hand, a yarn shop at 606 Carpenter Lane, took on the job of leading the effort to bring back the fair after the pandemic. She was aided by a committee made up of members of the Mt. Airy business and residential community. Sytsma recalls her first encounter with the Mt. Airy Village Fair: "I knew I belonged in a place that felt so magical. The Village Fair is a way to feel at home among your neighbors."

As in previous years, the Mt. Airy Village Fair is making a commitment to the community to run the event with a zero waste policy. This means that organizers work within their networks to identify best practices for the handling of waste and recyclables – fulfilling a community standard in hopes of reducing the carbon footprint of the entire neighborhood. 

Meg Hagele, owner of High Point Cafe, who has been involved since the beginning, said in an earlier interview, "The interactive element came from our very first meeting. We wanted a dynamic fair where people are learning, chatting and being a part of the community. The interactive element helps break down that barrier between the vendor and the community, and we are learning a new skill at the same time."

For more information, visit mtairyvillagefair.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.