Families, Friends Frolic at Saturday's St. James Street Fair

Sometimes, everything just comes together. That could be said of the  Street Fair this past Saturday, Sept. 17: the weather was gorgeous, the booths lined both sides of Main St. with no room to spare, and the fairgoers were out and about, making the most of a Woodbridge tradition.

It was the 22nd year for the fair, sponsored by St. James Church and School, which fittingly enough, crowns Amboy Ave. at one end of Main St., which was closed off for the event.

's Marching Band took up residence at one end of the street, entertaining the crowds with their brass and drum expertise. Toward Rahway Ave. near , a rock climbing wall, a rainbow slide, and other kid's rides were doing a brisk business.

And in between were the canopied tents, selling everything from bratwurst to hand knitted goods to sports items to local politics. Both Democrats and Republicans set up shop in view of the upcoming elections.

Some people straddled both sides of the sales fence. Susan Boros, a Republican running for at-large council, had two booths, side by side. One was trumpeting her candidacy; the other, her handmade pillows.

Both booths, she said with a smile, "are doing fine."

Service organizations and non-profits were giving away lots of free things, as were businesses. A local chiropractor was offering free five minute massages that had fair attendees lined up.

And then there was the food. Hardly a patron of the event could be seen without having something to munch on. 

"It's good," said Amanda, a Woodbridge High student, in between bites of a piled-high hot dog.