41st annual Williston Day set for Sept. 15

Tom McCarthy
The 2019 Williston Day Street Fair saw thousands of attendees and is one of the chamber's biggest events of the year. (Photo from the Williston Chamber of Commerce)

The annual Williston Park Street Fair will be held on Sept. 15, uniting the Willistons for a big day, with changed leadership.

This will be the event’s 41st year.

This year’s fair will run along Hillside Avenue between Willis Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road station between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The event is run by the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons.

“Every year, we host an annual street fair where businesses and groups in Williston Park and East Williston come out and celebrate all that is happening in our town,” the chamber said in a statement. “This is a highlight of the life of our city every year and the Chamber of Commerce is proud to help with this event.”

This year is the first time that Lucille Waters, former executive director for the chamber, will not be helping run the street fair after a 15-year tenure.

What makes the street fair special, Waters said, is that it is organized by people in the community rather than outside organizations. Waters said that involved parties include  local businesses, local Boy Scout troops, the Williston Park and East Williston fire departments and the Williston Park Civic Association, along with the chamber.

Eileen Devaney of the Seeds of Williston is co-president of the chamber.

She said that residents can expect to see many local businesses, as well as 200 outside vendors, selling an assortment of goods such as food, clothing and jewelry.

Devaney said that residents can expect to see a return of the children’s rides in the parking lot of the Bank of America on Hillside Avenue after an issue prevented them from being erected at last year’s street fair.

“It’s a real community day,” Devaney said. “It’s really a great day for everyone to see each other.”

Devaney said that many local businesses and the chamber will have tables at the fair.

In a previous interview, Waters said when the street fair began it was called “Old Fashioned Day.” The smaller event was held on Willis Avenue, she said.

 

Share this Article