This week has been rainy and gloomy in Philadelphia, but sunny weather is in the forecast for Saturday (May 7), just in time for the Spruce Hill May Fair, the annual community celebration.

The fair will take place from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. at Clark Park (43rd and Chester) and will feature attractions for everyone. For children, the fair will once again have a petting zoo, pony rides, a bounce tent and a 40-foot obstacle course, all at family-friendly prices.

Book lovers will find one of the best assortments of $1 used books the fair has ever offered, and raffle players can shoot for an Apple watch offered by University Family Fun Center. Drawings will be held throughout the day for many gift certificates for dinner and services from local merchants, including Aksum, Renata’s Kitchen, Dock Street Brewery, Philly Homebrew Outlet, Dottie’s Donuts, City Food Tours, Pattaya Grill, VIX Emporium, Jinxed, Baltimore Pet Shoppe, Keswick Cycle, Studio 34 and many more!

Raffle tickets are just $1 a piece or 6 for $5 and will be available at the Fair, or you can stop by the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St) on Thursday, May 5 (6-9 p.m.). For the full list of the participating merchants, go here.  Continue Reading

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair will be held on Saturday, May 7 in Clark Park. In addition to live music, food, book and plant sales, a raffle, and activities for kids, local artisans and craftspeople will showcase their creations and offer the public an opportunity to purchase their unique handcrafted wares. There will also be booths set up with information about local groups and causes seeking public support.

The Spruce Hill Community Association is hosting the event and is offering vending spots for interested individuals or organizations. Especially welcome are artists and crafters from West Philadelphia who would like to offer their works for sale, as well as any group or organization wanting to promote itself or a cause, event, or activity.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (5/1/2015): 

For the used book sale at the Spruce Hill May Fair, the Spruce Hill Center at 257 S. 45th will be open to receive used books at the following times:

Saturday, May 2: 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5: 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 7: 6-8 p.m.

You can also bring books for donation directly to the fair on May 9.

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair will return to Clark Park on May 9 and will bring dozens of local vendors, live music, food, raffles with great prizes from local businesses, book and plant sales, and games and entertainment for kids.

Vendors will be offering a wide range of arts and crafts, including many gift ideas for Mother’s Day, which is on May 10. There will also be booths set up with information about local groups and causes seeking public support.

The Spruce Hill Community Association, which organizes the event, still has a few vending spots open for interested individuals or organizations. Especially welcome are artists and crafters from West Philadelphia who would like to offer their works for sale, as well as any group or organization wanting to promote itself or a cause, event, or activity.

Application deadline is Friday, May 1. Tables are $30 to $40 (the tables and chairs will be provided). You can download the sign-up sheet here: Vendor Form.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Mark Wagenveld at ma.wa@verizon.net or 215-756-2070.

The “Love Your Park” week kicks off tomorrow in Philadelphia and everyone is encouraged to participate in cleaning, greening and celebrating neighborhood parks. Some fun events, as well as park clean-up and beautification projects will be happening in some West Philly neighborhoods, too. In addition, the Spruce Hill Community Association is organizing the annual May Fair at Clark Park this Saturday, so we hope many of our readers will stick around and join their friends and neighbors at this annual celebration of the Spruce Hill community. Guests are welcome!

Details for local events in the next few days are below. More great events are scheduled for next weekend (stay tuned). NOTE: Volunteers are wanted for some of tomorrow’s projects.

Spruce Hill May Fair, Clark Park (43rd and Chester)

Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair features live music from local bands, food from some of the best trucks, and a raffle with terrific prizes. There will also be many local artists and craftspeople with gifts for graduations and Mother’s Day, plants on sale by the UC Garden Club, used books for $1 each, and groups and organizations offering information about their causes. Kids can enjoy a big inflated obstacle course, a bounce house and other games. Raffle items include gift cards from local cafes and restaurants, a 60″ Samsung Plasma TV, a free weekend night at Homewood Suites, free yoga classes and more! For more information and schedule for the music groups, click here.

Planting Extravaganza!, Cedar Park (49th and Baltimore)

Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Volunteers are needed for planting trees, perennials and annuals throughout the park. The tools will be provided. The garden beds are composted and mulched so all is ready to go. If you can lend a hand for an hour or so, please RSPV:  tatemch@aol.com

Work Day at Clark Park (45th and Regent)

Saturday, May 10, 9:00 a.m.

Help is needed with spreading some mulch and other work. And you can spend the rest of the day at the Spruce Hill Community Association’s Mayfair. Meet at 9 a.m. by the shed, on 45th St where Regent Street ends, south of Chester. Snacks will be served. The event is organized by Friends of Clark Park.

Art in the Park, Malcolm X Memorial Park (52nd & Pine)

Monday, May 12, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

The Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation presents Art in the Park, a FREE arts and crafts traveling class. All ages are welcome! For more information, visit: www.philavisualarts.wix.com/camp

The annual May Fair organized by the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) is one of the year’s highlights in the neighborhood. This year, the event will mark the 56th anniversary! The date is set for Saturday, May 10.

As always, the SHCA is inviting individuals and groups to have a table at the event. Especially invited are crafts people and artisans from West Philadelphia, and local groups and organizations that would like to promote the work they are involved in. Local businesses may also take part, according to SHCA’s executive board member Mark Wagenveld.

The cost of a table for the day is $30 for non-profit groups and $40 for individuals and groups who are selling things. The SHCA will provide vendors with tables and chairs.

The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Clark Park (43rd & Chester Ave) and will also feature live music, food, games for children, a used book sale and a raffle with prizes offered by local merchants.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor please call 215-349-7825 and leave a message with your name and contact information. A form will be mailed out to you. Space is limited and all requests for a table must be in by April 25.

One of the biggest Clark Park events of the year is almost here and we wanted to share details on what will be in store at this all-day celebration of spring and the community.

Just like in previous years, the Saturday, May 11 event will have games for kids, such as an obstacle course and a bounce tent, and a raffle with great prizes from University Pinball and other local businesses. The grand prize this year is an iPad 4, with 10 runner-ups worth 100 tokens each for games at the University Pinball Family Fun Center at 40th and Spruce. Raffle tickets are $5 for six chances.

Many West Philly-based artists and craftspeople will be selling their handmade unique stuff (jewelry, pottery, fabrics, and more.) Church groups will be helping kids make craft presents for Mother’s Day, and the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools will be selling “LEA-monade” in support of the project to “green” the Lea School playground. Among other things to check out at the fair is a huge book sale, with many new and used books selling for $1 or less and the annual University City Garden Club plant sale. The plant sale will be at the UCGC’s booth near 43rd and Regent.

And of course, there will be a lot to choose from for your palate: some of the best food trucks in the area will be offering food, including Caribbean soul food, specialty pizzas, hamburgers and grilled meats, vegan and vegetarian dishes, and desserts.

Finally, here’s the line-up of the music performers at this year’s May Fair:

10:30 a.m. – Laura Szklarski (guitarist and singer)
11:30 a.m. – Sour Mash (high-energy bluegrass)
1:30 p.m. – Belleville Quartet (acoustic jazz ensemble)

NOTE: 43rd Street between Chester Ave and Regent Square will be closed for the fair, so residents are urged not to park there overnight on Friday night, or along the south side of Chester Avenue.

Spruce Hill May Fair
Clark Park (43rd & Chester)
Saturday, May 11
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.