Lorrayne Barros, with her Bubble Guns from Mardels. — Collette Jordan
The Democratic Council of MV campaigning for different candidates — Eunki Seonwoo
The street starting to fill up Friday night for the Tisbury Street Fair. — Collette Jordan
The Maple Mehndi Henna stand — Collette Jordan
Maple Mehndi Henna. — Collette Jordan
(L to R): Garrett Heath and his wife, of Kiff Woodworking, accompanied by Photographer, Angelina Topalieva, of Anica Banica Photography. — Collette Jordan
Kiff Woodworking at the street fair. — Collette Jordan
Malasadas in the making by the Good Shepard Parish. — Collette Jordan
Vineyard Caribbean Cuisine. — Collette Jordan
Kids spinning the wheel to win free lessons at Action Karate. — Collette Jordan
Island Author, Tom Dresser, selling his books. — Collette Jordan
Josh and Owen Hart with the Vineyard Vines Whale. — Collette Jordan
Face Painting for the Charter Fringe Fest Fundraiser. — Collette Jordan
(L to R): Sadie, Chef Anthony and Wes Stokes, brought the first ever raw bar to the Street Fair, selling Oysters on the half shell. — Collette Jordan
The Jaywalkers filled the street with music. — Collette Jordan
Alexis Russillo, selling The Birds and the Bees tote bags, in support of The Friends of Family Planning. — Collette Jordan
Face painting in supper of the Charter Fringe Fest Fundraiser. — Collette Jordan
The Gravikord Duo. — Collette Jordan
Grizzly R. and Ellie U. showing off their face paint! — Collette Jordan
Edgartown Officer Tyler Mories (left) and Sergeant, Michael Snowden, lending a helping hand at the Tisbury Street Fair. — Collettte Jordan
The MV Youth Hockey Mariners served Sausages and Perseverance! — Collette Jordan
The Legion Lobster Ladies, serving Lobster Rolls, of course! — Collette Jordan
Some of the many gentlemen of the Tisbury Fire Department. — Collette Jordan
Julio Brito and Courtney Dolliver, snacking on food from Mikado. — Collette Jordan
The Robinsons, selling shirts in support of The Tisbury Fire Department. — Collette Jordan
Cotton Candy, being made in support of the Baptist Church. — Collette Jordan
Megan and Libby, enjoying their Cotton Candy from the Baptist Church Stand. — Collette Jordan
On Friday evening, Tisbury had itself another annual birthday party on Main Street after two years off because of COVID. Main Street was filled with people and vendors. There was facepainting, food, a long line for fried dough, and lots of silly string and poppers — the classics of the Tisbury Street Fair.
Back as well at the fair were the Lobster Ladies supporting the American Legion Auxiliary. Nancy Nevin told The Times these women have been selling their lobster rolls at the fair for at least 30 years, “We’ve been coming out to the fair going as far back as when Cora Medeiros was selectwoman,” she said. Nevin also said that every year the fair gives them one of the best spots on the street, setting up shop at the farthest end of the street. “I love it because we can look down and see the whole town,” Nevin said.
Set up next to the Lobster Ladies was one of the several Tisbury Fire Department stands where Chief Greg Leland told The Times his biggest takeaway was this year’s crowd. “Even more so than the last year we were open, the streets are full from one end to the other. Hopefully next year we will get some more vendors out here, but we look forward to continuing the tradition of the Tisbury Street Fair.”
Further down the street, Shelley Christiansen and her mom, Sheppie Moore, had a different take on the crowd. Christiansen recalled a Tisbury Street Fair crowd 15 to 20 years back where people could hardly move as the crowd was shoulder to shoulder. “In more recent years it has been a nice-sized crowd where you can actually walk down the street,” she said. Originally from New York but year-round in Oak Bluffs since 2004, Christiansen said what draws her and her mom to the fair year after year is “the people watching more than anything else, and usually snacking, but not this year because we did lobster rolls first.”
While many classics remained from years past at the fair, a new sight to see this year was Frank Brown and his custom, programmable lightsaber, a business he started three years ago. Brown, originally from Indiana, has been coming to the Island during the summer with his family since he was about 10 years old. Brown could be found walking up and down the street gathering crowds of kids to check out his lightsaber. “The fair was happening today and I thought what better place to show off my lightsaber…and what kid doesn’t love a lightsaber, so I’m giving them a chance to play with it and everything,” he said. Brown made sure to show The Times his saber’s different color settings and light cues too, and it did not disappoint.
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