WILLIAMSTOWN -- Hundreds turned out Sunday to take a look at the local supply of goods, crafts, produce and more at Summer Sundays on Spring Street.
Upwards of 15 vendors and many community nonprofits participated in fair, the fourth on record. This year's lineup debuted a new organization, with vendors and nonprofits set up along the length of Spring Street rather than congregated at the end.
Summer Sundays Planning Committee member Paula Consolini was pleased with the turnout.
"It takes some time to build a sense of ‘Hey, this is happening' among the community, and I think we're getting there," Consolini said. "We have a lot more vendors this year, and it's an opportunity for our nonprofits to get information out."
Consolini, also the coordinator for experiential education at Williams College, reported major developments in the fair in terms of children's activities.
Michelle Gietz, co-owner of Where'd You Get That!?, has partnered with the fair for the Young Artisans Initiative, coaching and providing guidance to young craft aficionados.
"It's an opportunity for them to learn a little about perfecting their crafts," Consolini said. "[Gietz] is also offering market and production advice."
In addition to the craft workshops and a well-used bounce house, the fair featured a science station, where children conducted laser light and sound experiments with guidance from volunteers.
Jennifer Swoap,
"This has been a great way to get the kids out here and having fun with science," Swoap said. "We're working on next year's curriculum experiments, so the most successful ones in this testing will by done by students in science labs during next school year."
Swoap said teachers from Greylock Elementary School, Williamstown Elementary School and Brayton Ele mentary School are participating in the initiative.
Williamstown Community Chest also participated in the fair, covering the expense of a station providing free keepsakes themed to the movie of the night. Sunday, the movie on schedule, hosted by Images Cinema, was "Catch Me If You Can." At the station, people could get their photo snapped and printed on a "Wanted" poster.
"We wanted to be part of this because it's such a big part of Williamstown," Chest member Michael Goodwin said.
Next week features bike helmets and license plates, as "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" is scheduled to be shown.
The fair will continue each Sunday evening throughout July.
To reach Phil Demers, email pdemers@thetranscript.com.
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