The Street Faire, organized by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, returned to the university’s campus after its cancellation last spring term due to reported safety concerns related to the UO Student Workers Union strike.
The biannual event has been a staple of student engagement and campus life for over 50 years. The Fall Street Faire was open from Oct. 15-17, with over 80 booths and 52 community vendors total.
Students were particularly excited for this year’s Fall Street Faire because of the cancellation of last school year’s Spring Street Faire.
The cancellation of the Spring Street Faire was announced to students last May in an email, amid the UOSW strike.
“It was definitely sad for sure. It’s a tradition; it starts a school year and it ends a school year,” Ava Coffman and Bren O’Donnell, both juniors, said. “Not having it sucked, (but) we’re both just happy it’s back.”
For some smaller vendors that applied to sell at the Spring Street Faire last year, the cancellation was a big financial hit.
“My biggest revenue is from commissions, so (the fair) allows me to get in front of folks as opposed to just doing online marketing. So I definitely felt it, because this is one of my biggest advertising campaigns that I do throughout the year,” Ben Cardenas, owner of BR Customs, a local woodshop business, said.
Heather Sterling-Minder, a local Eugene artist, said she missed out on three days of revenue from work. “Even though we got reimbursed for the initial fee for the booth space, it was still quite a bit of income (lost). At that point, it’s too late to apply to another venue.”
Despite the sudden cancellation, many vendors still returned this year.
“I would say we got a large majority of our vendors that still applied back (this term). A couple didn’t, and it was hard, with the faire being canceled in the way it was in that short period of time, it can absolutely harm that relationship,” Cash Kowalski, 2023-24 ASUO secretary of engagement, said. “So we’ve done as much as we can to check in with vendors and repair that relationship to the extent to which it may have been damaged in the past.”
For new vendors, this year’s Fall Street Faire provided them the opportunity to enjoy the good weather, good food and good company.
“Everyone’s been very nice, and everybody seems to like the food. It’s been great serving the community here, I’ve loved doing it,” Isaiah Sweed, a worker at Wrapped, said. It was the business’s first time vending at the event.
Kyle White, owner of Kyle White Glass, was a former student at the university who used to attend the Street Faire. “Being on the other side of the street, vending to the students, it’s a really cool experience. I find it really fun and enriching to talk to the students and share my craft. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and I think it brings a lot of the community together.”
This term’s faire marks the 54th year since the event started on campus in 1971, according to Kowalski.
“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to help put it on again… It’s really special to be a part of the lineage of this kind of event, affecting students in a really special way.”
