CANCELED: Willy Street Fair

PRESS RELEASE: Common Wealth Development (CWD) and The Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center (WMNC) are announcing today that the Willy Street Fair scheduled for September is cancelled for the safety of attendees , staff members and volunteers who would work the event.

The decision to cancel the event benefiting both CWD and WMNC was made after a review of the state’s COVID-19 plan and discussions with local officials. The Willy Street Fair greatly benefits these two nonprofits with funds that help support several life-building programs.

We offer affordable housing, emergency food services, after school and summer camps for youth, teen employment, meals and fitness services for seniors, and subsidization of mental health services.

“Our neighborhoods come together at the Willy St. Fair each year to provide significant support for these two amazing organizations,” noted Ben LeRoy, Vice President, Common Wealth Development Board of Directors. “This year we are going to need our neighborhoods more than ever.”

“We are committed to making sure we’re able to take care of the people we serve during this pandemic so we’re going to have to rely on community support in other forms,” said Gary Kallas, Executive Director of the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center.

While we are not able to gather together, we can still remember the joy the fair brings. We are launching a commemorative package campaign for the fair that could not take place. We hope that the people who would usually attend the fair will purchase a commemorative package to celebrate the fair and support two incredible nonprofits.

Each commemorative package includes:

• A Willy Street Fair unisex t-shirt

• A reusable canvas tote bag

• A reusable facemask

• A voucher for ice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe

Additional packages items include a 6-pack beer sampler from 6 local breweries, and bottomless beer wristbands for the Willy Street Fair 2021.

Finally, each package purchase is a valid entry for a chance to win Chocolate Shoppe ice cream for one year!

Orders may be picked up at Wil-Mar 9/17-9/18 (9 a.m. – 7 p.m.) and 9/19 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)