Downtown’s largest community event is catching attention in Prince Albert and beyond.
The 16th annual street fair, which takes place on June 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is returning with its usual favourites such as food trucks and live entertainment.
But its anticipated 200 vendors consist of a few unfamiliar faces to the city—they’re coming from Saskatoon and Regina.
Downtown Business Improvement District Executive Director, Carolyn Carleton, said some are larger companies like Costco and others are small businesses she’s never even heard of.
“Obviously people see it as a positive market and a positive area to be involved in,” she said.
“There’s a lot of these small businesses that get started by doing events like this,” said Carleton. “Then they build up and then eventually they may have a storefront, which is kind of exciting because I look at that and I’m like ‘Okay, some of these vendors that may be downtown for the day may want to join our community, open up in one of our locations that are available downtown.”
A new element to the street fair this year applies to the city’s furry friends.
Pet Planet will be running a pet station where they can grab a drink of water and play.
“We’ve even thought about all of our family pets as well this year. We saw a lot of dogs last year so we though ‘You know what, they need something too,’” said Carleton.
The event runs over seven blocks on Central Avenue from 15th Street to River Street.
The community can enjoy live entertainment on every second block. There will be a large stage set up on 14th Street by the bus station and at the Gateway Mall.
The acts are not yet released.
Additionally, the Kinsmen Club is continuing their duck race.
The rubber ducks, in which tickets are currently available for purchase, will be dropped in the river at the bridge at 5 p.m.
The first place duck wins a prize of $2500.
“There’s something for every age category,” said Carleton, especially children. The fair will also consist of face painting, clowns, bouncy castles, pony rides, a car show and free entrance to the Historical Museum.
Carleton said the city is providing free transit so people don’t have to worry about parking far away and having to walk.
Last year, an estimated over 18,000 people attended and Carleton hopes the hype continues to rise.
“Central Avenue, Memorial Square, all the way up to 15th street was just packed full of people last year, so we’re looking forward to adding to that again this year.”
The deadline for vendors and food trucks to register is this Friday, May 31.
The Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District will keep you updated on their Facebook page and website.
