Annual Montavilla Street Fair is again summer’s ‘Main Event’

INCLUDES FUN FAIR VIDEO | Take a look at this year’s iteration of a great outer East Portland event which spans Montavilla’s business district, celebrating community …

Even with steamy summer weather, folks flock to the 2022 Montavilla Street Fair, enjoying the resurgence of this grand outer East Portland event.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

By all measures, the 2022 Montavilla Street Fair, held on the last Sunday in July – this year, on July 31st – was a tremendous success. To read about the very first one eleven years ago, CLICK HERE.

The Street Fair was first dreamed up by members of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) in 2011, and has continued since; albeit interrupted during the two COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021

While the first few Montavilla Street Fairs were relegated to side streets, METBA’s now-signature event now fills all of the Montavilla business district along SE Stark Street, from 76th Avenue all the way east to, and including, 80th Avenue.

At one of the entertainment venues, Norwester Sky musically entertains.

“The Montavilla Street Fair is an ‘all-hands on deck’ project for the current year’s METBA Board which actually started planning in the last quarter of 2021, as part of the METBA board’s strategic planning and budgeting process,” explained the organization’s president, Neil Mattson of Montavilla Guitar Studio.

“Then detailed Street Fair planning started in March,” Mattson told East Portland News.

In the METBA booth is the organization’s Secretary, Eric Larpenteur, from SVN Imbrie Commercial Real Estate; while event medic Tre Clayton holds the official T-Shirt.

With the help of 29 volunteers, several of them from US Bank, this year’s event attracted 122 registered vendors. And, more than 15 businesses along SE Stark Street which didn’t set up booth canopies, also participated in the fair.

“We did have several vendors cancel on the day of the event, because of the heat,” conceded Mattson.

With more than 100 vendors lining Montavilla’s main street, and with all of the fulltime shops and restaurants open, there was plenty to do during this year’s Montavilla Street Fair.

And, topping out at 97° that day, hot it was! Nevertheless, as the afternoon wore on, a light breeze swept down the street, providing some relief. But, the hot weather certainly didn’t keep folks from coming to the fair.

“It’s true, visitors loved it; despite the heat, turnout was strong, with approximately 11,000 people attending, based on official counts,” Mattson informed. “Also, we know of several businesses who said they’d had their all-time best sales days!”

See what it was like to visit this year’s Montavilla Street Fair:

“Overall, I feel the fair was well-organized, well-attended, and a was a well-needed celebration for the neighborhood,” Mattson observed. “Our top priority at METBA was making sure Stark Street businesses had a voice in what the fair looked like; we worked for several months to ensure 100% buy-in from the district.”

Earlier in the day, the Montavilla Farmers Market was open as usual. Bands played in two areas, providing a lively soundtrack for the event. Folks browsed, shopped, dined, and generally seemed to have fun, as they ducked under shade whenever possible.

Montavilla Neighborhood Association Chair Jacob Loeb, from Montavilla.net, holds a “street sign topper” alongside with 82^nd Avenue Business Association representative Ben Fischer of Foodi Menus, who is promoting the district’s Around the World in 82 Dishes in October.

“The reboot of the Montavilla Street Fair helped remind our Neighborhood Business District just what’s possible when businesses and neighbors work together toward a common goal,” reflected Mattson. “I hope this year’s successful afair has everyone dreaming about what’s possible down the line – and I’m excited to get started on planning next year soon!”

Montavilla pulses with activity during this year’s Street Fair.

Presenting Sponsors of the Montavilla Street Fair were Adventist Health Portland and Mr. Plywood, and Major Sponsors were Montavilla Sewing Centers, and US Bank.

Learn what’s next for the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.

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