Lents Neighborhood Association holds second annual Ramona Street Fair

The Symphonic Rebellion perform during the Lents Neighborhood Association's second annual Lents Street Fair on SE Ramona Street.

(Motoya Nakamura)

The Lents neighborhood is taking its annual fair up a notch this year.

Lents Street Fair

July 27, SE 91st Ave. and Foster Rd.

Parade begins at 12:15. Vendors open at 1 p.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The Lents Street Fair will feature 90 vendors, said neighborhood association president Jesse Cornett, which is twice as many as years past. Live bands will perform on two separate stages – one of which is designated solely for international folk music.

The first Lents fair was held in 2009, and until this year has been tucked away on Southeast Ramona Street. Cornett said organizers moved the fair to Southeast 91st Avenue between Foster Road and Reedway Street to boost visibility.

The purpose of the fair is not only to promote community among neighbors, but also to draw visitors. The neighborhood's bad reputation is a "hangover" from 20 years ago, Cornett said. He wants Portlanders to see the outer Southeast neighborhood's burgeoning business district and wide sidewalks.

"Events like this are critically important," he said. "We've got the amenities, we've got the employers, we've got nice sidewalks. Getting people out here to see it is huge."

The fair will be adjacent to the Lents International Farmer's Market, which Cornett said shows off the best of what the East Portland neighborhood has to offer.

"If you want to see the potential that Lents has, show up at noon or 1 p.m. on a sunny Sunday in the summer," he said.

The event kicks off with the Founders Day parade at 12:15 p.m. (the Belmont Goats are participating), and vendors open at 1 p.m. Lents-based bands Garden Goat, Beachmaster and the Blazers are among several live bands slated to play.

Kids activities will wrap up around 5 p.m., Cornett said, and vendors will shut down at 8 p.m.

-- Melissa Binder