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Downtown Ceres Street Faire first started in 1988 • Event has evolved from the early-day Ceres Peach Festival
Ceres Lions Club and Ceres Chamber of Commerce members founded the Ceres Street Faire in October 1988. It was an effort to combine an antiques and collectibles show, that then Ceres vice mayor Richard McBride was attempting to put together as a fund raiser for the Ceres Lions Club, with the effort of the Ceres Chamber of Commerce to move the historic Peach Harvest Festival from Smyrna Park to the streets of downtown Ceres.
The main goal was to create a fundraiser for not only the Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, but to also offer fundraising opportunities to other Ceres nonprofit organizations. Envisioned were food booths, an antique and collectibles show, and entertainment.
The special committee of Lions Club and Chamber members dubbed the celebration the Ceres Street Faire.
Others who assisted McBride were Don Goudeau, Allan Graham, Paul Caruso, and Cheryl Winter, who was the Chamber Executive Vice President in 1988.
Eldon Frost of Denair created a logo for the event. It consists of a plane carrying a banner reading Ceres Street Faire – Rain or Shine. His logo is still used occasionally on T-shirts and other forms of advertising.
To boost attendance, it was decided no admission fee would be charged. The success of the first Ceres Street Faire exceeded all expectations for everyone involved, and its popularity has continued throughout the years.
The success of the first Street Faire can best be summed up with the story of the Lions Club food booth. The Lions’ offered barbecued chicken and beef rib dinners during both days – Saturday and
Sunday. Things were so successful for the Lions Club during that first year that 1,000 barbecue chicken dinners were sold. They ran out of chicken on Saturday, and after purchasing more, nearly ran out on Sunday.
In 2023, 35 years later, Faire goers will be treated arts & crafts booths; commercial booths; food vendors by Ceres non-profit groups; two stages of entertainment; custom Car Show (Saturday only); an RV show on Sunday and a children’s activity/play area.
