During the annual Fall Arts Festival people pack the streets in the Lawrence Main Street area. Food trucks are taking orders and live music begins to play. Children run past vendors as they are manning their booths.
Gabrielle Williams, from Beverly in Burlington County, New Jersey says she applied for a vendor slot two weeks before the event. She started her business, Oats & Soaks during January of 2022 to assist busy women in their personal self care journeys. Since then Williams has gone to 10 other events, this is her first time selling at the Fall Arts Festival. She brought an assortment of handmade soaps, body scrubs, lotions, shower steamers, and eucalyptus.
Before applying, Williams heard there would be food trucks and live entertainment, and knew she wanted to be a part of it.
Williams says, “The marching band was awesome. And watching the kids do karate a few stalls down, that was really fun.”
To celebrate 325 years since the town’s founding of Lawrenceville Main Street, in Lawrenceville, NJ, they hosted its 5th annual Fall Arts Fest on October 8 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The street fair was held in the Main Street area and had over 150 vendors, food, and live music.
Lawrenceville Main Street is a non-profit organization. They host events to raise money to give back to the community. Their mission is to create a successful business climate in the town while keeping it a beautiful and friendly place where everyone feels welcome.
Despite there being a year where they could not hold the event due to the pandemic, Kelly Edelstein, the Executive Director of Lawrenceville Main Street, says she feels like the isolation improved the event.
“The pandemic has shown people how important your own backyard is. The people next to you, the people in your household, the people in your community,” Edelstein says.
This event first started 5 years ago with only 10 vendors participating, this year, there were 160 vendors.
Regency Desserts, owned by David and Kimberly Caldwell is a small family owned online bakery that sells cupcakes, cookies, cheesecake, as well as an assortment of other cakes. This was their 4th Fall Arts Festival and according to Kimberly Caldwell they will keep on coming back.
“They find us. They remember us. Quite a few people came back looking for us.” Caldwell said. “It’s a win-win situation.”
The event gives small business owners the opportunity to showcase their talents while also experiencing what the rest of the community has to offer.
This year they have 120 high school volunteers from Notre Dame High School, the Lawrenceville School and Lawrence High School. For 18 year old Notre Dame senior and Lawrenceville Main Street intern, Isabelle Timberlake, this event is one of many she has volunteered for.
“I first started watering the plants on Main Street because I thought that it was a really nice way to add to the community and it was so close to home. It kind of just grew from there.” Timberlake said.
That was three years ago, and now for the past two years Timberlake has become an intern for Lawrenceville Main Street. As an intern she comes to events, fundraisers, and helps out with anything Edelstein may need.
Sean Robbins, freshman Fashion Design major at MCCC, heard about this event from a couple of the vendors.
“I’m excited to hang out with my friends and see a band perform,” Robbins said.
All musician slots are volunteer based. The School of Rock Princeton House Band has performed with Lawrenceville Main Street during their other seasonal events and were one of the bands chosen to play at this year’s Fall Arts Fest.
Their show director, Chris Seeland signed up the band to perform at this year’s fall fest, and 16 year old band member Mia Coppola from Bordentown Regional High School agrees with his decision.
“It’s a really nice environment and there’s a lot of people to hear us,’’ Coppola said adding, “I think it provides good business and they always welcome us.”
Lawrenceville Main Street puts on other Arts Festivals throughout the year. They also host Music in the Park, a free outdoor concert at Weeden Park every Thursday during the summer.
Coppola said “We went through so much, It’s nice to be able to see people living again”
Visit www.lawrencevillemainstreet.com for more information about upcoming events.
