Eco-Friendly Design
The West Orange Street Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 1.
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The event will be hosted by Downtown West Orange, which said the fair is among the biggest events of the year in the county and “features local crafters, food from local vendors, street performers, a classic car show, beer and wine garden, a rock-climbing wall, free all-day admission to the Thomas Edison Museum and more.”
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This event will have free parking in the parking lots at 80 Main St. and 286 Main St., and there will be free golf cart rides to get to and from the event on 80 Main St., the website said.
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According to Downtown West Orange’s Website, the street fair is sponsored by Xfinity, Optimum, Edison Lofts, Uptown Ink & Threads, Williams Best Auto Body, Matrix Development Group, Luv My Orthodontist and others.
The fair includes “A Taste of West Orange” featuring cuisines like “Greek, Mexican, BBQ, soft-serve ice cream and gourmet ice pops, and more,” according to the event website.
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The West Orange Street Fair will host The Edison Classic Car Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; this year’s car show will include a new category: Fast & Furious muscle cars. The cost to register a car is $20.
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Proceeds from the car show will be given to the Friends of Thomas Edison National Historical Park “to further preserve the Edison legacy,” according to the event website.
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Kids will have the opportunity to meet their favorite costumed characters, including Spider-Man, Black Panther, the Disney princesses and the Minions from the “Despicable Me” franchise. According to the website, other activities at the street fair will include face painting, crafts, live music, and free admission to the Edison Museum.
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Megan Brill, the executive director of the Downtown West Orange Alliance, said the street fair will be run by the Downtown Alliance and Thomas Edison Museum.
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Brill said she expected about 5,000 people at the event.
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Part of the West Orange Street Fair will be held in front of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park and patrons will be able to see “lots of special exhibits that don’t necessarily get seen all year long. So they’re excited about being able to bring folks in,” Brill said.
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Brill said there will be a DJ sponsored by Anthony D’Agostino Mama Dag’s Seafood and Pasta Bar, a visit from NJ DINO’s Crunchy the T-Rex, remote-controlled car races, and a live sculpting of an ice sculpture. There will be fees to participate in some of these events.
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Brill said the Thomas Edison Museum and Downtown West Orange want the Street Fair to be “community-centered. We want the businesses in and around the area to meet the residents, so it gives them the opportunity to, in a friendly environment, find out a little bit about each other and to showcase the museum.
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“We need to make a little bit of money to cover our costs – it is a fundraising moment for downtown. But it really is about making a fun day for everyone.”