by Bill Crossman, posted 14 June 2013
Since 1972, the Fremont Fair celebration (with the addition of the Fremont Arts Council Solstice Parade in 1989,) has drawn hundreds of thousands of participants to this neighborhood. Guests are advised, and encouraged, to “Celebrate de libertas quirkas – the Freedom to be Peculiar.”
How do resident Fremonsters celebrate the event? How do they feel playing host to throngs of revelers? Here a cross-section of our neighbors, of those living within blocks of the fairgrounds, give their impressions.
Retirees With A Touch of Gray
Hershell Prather and Laura Chadwick have lived at the same address in Fremont for 14 years. Reflecting back on his experiences, Prather, a recently retired machinist from Acu-Line/Asko Processing, said he’s, “seen a lot of Fairs,” and has “a lot more fun watching the Solstice Parade,” than the thought of doing anything else. He’s had some special viewing venues. Before the Nectar Lounge was built, he reported that they “had the best seat using pallets to stand on dumpsters.”
Chadwick first moved to Fremont 30 years ago. She recalled that they have “set their blanket and umbrella out the night before along the parade route.” They both described adventures of experiencing the parade from rooftops, seeing the “first [cycling] streakers,” and when the Parade traveled from east to west. Chadwick, a social manager, gave her top three “list of take-aways,”from the Fair as, “rock-and-roll bands, people watching and kid friendliness.”
Russell “Wayne” Ristow has 20 years as a Fremonster. At age 70, pony-tailed, fit and soulful, Ristow said he decided to become a Seattle resident after seeing his first Solstice Parade. He exclaimed that Fremont “had me, as a labor ready, living under a bush, and my wages were garnished.” In 1993, Ristow arrived here seeking work as a fisherman but felt maligned as a ‘Californian’ on his arrival. He thought Fremont was, “cool and the people were too.” These days, Ristow can be seen at most Fremont events, taking it all in.
Artists, And Business People
One rarely sees Linda Olson alone without her dog, Billy. Professionally, Olson is the artist & proprietor of ‘space 24retro’ at the Fremont Vintage Mall, on Etsy, and at every Fremont Sunday Market. For the past two years she’s held a one day “clearance” garage sale during the Fair with Gerry Vitello, another Market regular. Plans are in the works for the third annual at this Fair. The neighbors hold the sale behind the M & S Deli.
A few years back, Olson lived at the Fremont Fine Arts Foundry. “It was lot of fun listening to the music and seeing the art cars,” she recalled, being fenced in (due to the location on the fairgrounds,) indulging a guilty pleasure (and moment of personal breakthrough,) during the Neil Diamond tribute band. Regretfully, she reported that she’s only, “seen the Parade once,” but she did, “love the belly dancers.” Olson channels Fremont’s energy into her art, and seeks to experience all that the Center of the Universe has to offer. She plans to stay.
John Crosby lived for 20 years at the location of Canal Street Coffee, and operated the popular coffee shop beginning in 2006. Before locating here, he worked for The Milwaukee Road Railroad from 1975-1985. In 1971, as an employee for Kurtzeri Air Service on Lake Union, Fremont caught his whim as a place for residence and opportunity.
Crosby’s a railroad aficionado, and a self-proclaimed “carney” of all things with a market potential. “The Fremont Fair brought out the inherent carney in me,” he declared nonchalantly. Ever the creator, his progeny of businesses included, ‘Fremont Urban Bikers,’ with its mission to ‘Burn Carbohydrates not Hydrocarbons.’ Crosby started selling sunglasses, then gloves, to fairgoers from a kiosk at the Fair several years ago. He admitted that he has had issues with the Fair organizers about the location of generators and toilets near his home/business. He felt these were, “taking up space that is better used by fairgoers to sit, relax and enjoy the green, and the canal.”
He did acknowledge that sales of coffee products increased tenfold on days of the Fair. Recently, Crosby sold his residence and the coffee shop, but rest assured that he’s staying in Fremont and laying the foundation for more businesses here.
Newbies, Preparing for More
New Fremonsters Wes and Melissa Stern arrived in the Center of the Universe eight months ago. Degrees in hand, but a dismal job market in Chico, California, the “employment opportunities and Fremont’s livability” attracted the couple to locate here, Wes cited. He is a technician for Clayton Aquarium Corporation and Melissa Stern works as a Vocational Specialist with Community Psychiatric Clinic.
They love the neighborhood, and the sense of community that Fremont offers. “It’s walk-able and the people are friendly,” Melissa said, along with the option to, “take the bus Downtown.” Their cocker spaniel, Henry, loves exploring the canal and canine socializing at Norm’s Eatery & Ale House.
Anticipating their first Fair and Solstice Parade, they’ve relied solely on hearsay from new friends about the impacts on residents from the events. For the Parade, they plan to host friends and family in their one bedroom apartment. The 25th Solstice Parade will be made significant for the young couple in another way, as they expect the arrival of their first child a month later on July 14th. The Sterns hope to be lifelong Fremonsters, to see their child attend B.F. Day Elementary School, and enjoy a long future of Parades and Fairs to come.
The Fremont Fair takes place June 22nd & 23rd, with an opening night pre-party on Friday, June 21st (the Summer Solstice,) from 4p – 11p. The hours of the Fair are Saturday from 10a – 8p and Sunday from 11a – 6p. The Fremont Arts Council Solstice Parade will be held June 22nd starting at 3p.
“From the festival of madness to the festival of love… the summer solstice… is supposed to remind us of nature’s awesome power. It’s a testimony to the vastness of the universe, to the strength of the sun and to our incredible insignificance.” –The Huffington Post, posted June 21, 2011
Related Articles
- Moses Shaibi Is The M & S Deli
- by Bill Crossman, July 27, 2012
- ‘What Are You Doing For The 2012 Solstice Parade?’
- by Kirby Lindsay, June 8, 2012
©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.