As vendors who have supported, promoted and participated in the Downtown Street Fair for over 20 years, we are no longer interested in continuing our relationship with the event. We have been loyal and successful vendors through many ups and downs, changes in location due to reconstruction of downtown streets, etc, and changes in event leadership. Through it all, up until this year, we have been happy to work through all the issues and return to the event.

This year was an extremely negative experience for us, for many reasons. As Rogers stated in her letter, our location was not at all conducive to selling our products and many of our loyal customers were unable to find us. In addition, the music she mentioned was also right across the street from us, and was so loud we had to yell to be heard in our booth. The addition of non-craft vendors and the selling of alcoholic drinks every few booths certainly did not help give the impression of a quality arts/crafts fair.

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We were not greeted or acknowledged in any way by the coordinator(s?) of the show until late Saturday afternoon when one of them stopped and asked how it was going. When we stated our concerns, we were treated very unprofessionally and we were rudely told that we needn’t apply for next year’s show. We are not the only ones who were upset by the treatment at the hands of this coordinator, but we are likely the only ones to speak up, since anyone who had the nerve to speak to her was threatened with not being allowed in the show in the future. One vendor told us the coordinator told him if he didn’t like it he should pack up and go home.

None of these conditions are usual at any other craft show we have participated in, nor are they a good way to keep the street fair as a quality showplace for arts/crafts vendors who actually make their own products. They are unquestionably not the conditions we hope to provide for our customers either. Certainly, the Downtown Community Partnership can find a coordinator who can work with vendors and who is willing to listen in a professional manner to the vendors’ thoughts about what would improve the event.

We will continue to participate in, and serve, the Fargo area by having a booth in the Island Park show later this month. However, we will not likely promote the Fargo Street Fair as it is no longer a quality venue.

Ceryes and Jacobson operate Jake's Syrups & Natural Products in Vergas, Minn.