City Ethnic Fair Doubling In Size

City Ethnic Fair

In Size

By Jody Vellucci

(News Stoff Reporter)

You won’t have to stand up to sit down at this year’s second annual Ethnic Fair, Sept. 6-7.

The fair is double the size of last year’s and there are expected to be many sitting areas to accommodate fairgo-ers. Last year, many people had to stand in long lines to

be seated at the Polish and German sidewalk cafes.

“There will be many sidewalk cafes this year,” said Rabbi Bruce Warshal, chairman of the Multi-Ethnic Alliance, one of the fair’s cosponsors.

Other co-sponsors are Downtown Business and Development Association and

the City

“Last year was the first year and we didn’t know how big to go. We knew it would be successful but not as successful as it was,” Warshal said.

Last year the fair was set up on Main Street between Washington and William. This year, the fair will be set up on Main from Washington to Williams

from Fourth Avenue to Ashley along Liberty.

There will be two more booths this year but the doubling in size is due to larger booths.

Over 20,000 persons attended last year’s fair and more are expected this year.

Nineteen groups participated last year and 21 will participate this year. The Italian-Americans and the Japanese are the newcomers.

If food is your weakness, this is the place. There will be food, drink and pastries at each booth ranging from Greek pastries to Jewish delicacies.

Books and artifacts also will be on display and for sale. Profits from the booths will go to non-profit ethnic organizations specified by each ethnic group participating.

“Last year, the groups sold out of food. This year, no one is going to sell out,” Warshal said.

The fair will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Entertainment will be scheduled each night from 7 to 11 p.m. It will include belly dancing, folk singing and folk dancing as well as A1 Nalli and his Italian Piason Band.

The purpose of the ethnic fair is a “celebration of the concept that people can be different and enjoy their ‘differentness” but also realize they are the same because they live in Ann Arbor and cooperate with each other,” Warshal said.