S. Perry Summer Fair planned Saturday
For the eighth year in a row, the South Perry neighborhood is throwing a party to celebrate itself and raise funds for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, 1004 E. Eighth Ave.
The South Perry Summer Fair, formerly called the Street Faire, will be held Saturday, kicking off with a parade at 10 a.m. and concluding with an outdoor movie at The Shop, 924 S. Perry St., starting around sundown.
The fair provides an opportunity for neighbors to gather and show off their community, and it also attracts people from outside the neighborhood who visit the businesses and Grant Park. It also raises funds for the nursery.
“It’s about community and family fun,” said Jamieson Kelly, one of the event’s coordinators for the South Perry Business and Neighborhood Association.
This year, the neighborhood is featuring its diversity. The neighborhood boasts people of many races, religions, cultures, political backgrounds and socio-economic backgrounds.
“That’s certainly something to celebrate,” Kelly said.
Theme of the party is “All Hearts Are Welcome,” which was inspired by the theme of the Kindred Spirits outdoor quilt show next to the Vanessa Behan nursery.
“There are quilts hanging everywhere here,” said BeLinda LaBounty of Kindred Quilts, 1015 E. Ninth Ave.
The quilt shop has recruited the Spokane Valley Quilting Guild to sew 120 crib quilts, which will be donated to the nursery.
The quilters will sell hot dogs, pop and chips for $3. The food was donated by Bargain Giant Foods, which will bring out its “Wienie Wagon” for the occasion.
The quilters also will feature a Bizarre Bazaar, where placemats, potholders and aprons will be sold. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each for a chance to win a quilt.
Last year, the quilt show raised around $5,000 for the nursery.
Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s the only day of the year when the public can see what the nursery does for families in crisis. It offers short-term shelter and care for children and helps parents learn to create a stabler environment for their children.
Throughout the day, barrels will be placed in various locations for anyone to donate formula, diapers, clothing, blankets and other items for children at the nursery.
Between the parade and the movie, other entertainment will be provided at the South Perry Summer Fair.
At 11 a.m., South PerrYoga will give a free yoga lesson.
The Silver Spurs, a children’s performing arts group, will perform at 11:45 a.m.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Spokane International Dance Troupe will perform dances from different cultures, such as Mexico, Russia and Scandinavia, as well as dances from vaudeville days and the ‘60s.
The performances will be held in the cul-de-sac on 10th Avenue between the Perry Street Café and the Altamont Pharmacy.
The Shop coffeehouse will hold a record swap starting at 9:30 a.m., and bands will play all day, with DJ music during intermission.
The Pop Shoppe has opened on South Perry next to the Perry Street Café. Both businesses will be open, and the cafe also will sell hot dogs outside.
Food vendors from Jalapeno Jeaven, Papa John’s Pizza and others will be on hand.
AJ’s Greetings will open for the first time on Saturday. The card shop specializes in greeting cards for the gay community.
Kids from Odyssey Youth Center will staff an informational booth and provide stick-on tattoos for kids.
Activities for kids and time to just sit and enjoy a snack in the shade of Grant Park also will be highlights of the day.
At sundown, The Shop will project movies along an exterior wall of Altamont Pharmacy. On Friday, the movie will be “Raising Arizona”; on Saturday, the film will be “Batman,” starring Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton.
People attending the fair should bring chairs and blankets.
Kelly said planning for next year’s event will start sometime next month. He’s looking for volunteers.