Hessler Street Fair: The Fair 1968 Forgot

 

 

I have to admit I like going to the Hippie Fest every year. Grass Fed Cheeseburgers, Homemade Soap and Incense, and of course overpriced Jewelry made my the 23 year old who desperately wish it was 1968. It actually pretty damn funny to watch all these college age kids try to reproduce Woodstock on a side street in the University Circle area.

More power to the really. While it has been more or less since 1969, missing 1985-1994 and 2007, it a staple of Cleveland, but honestly one of the worst fairs. The food as well below par for most of the fairs, and all the booths essentially selling the same 3-4 items are a bit stupid. How many Hentai Tattoo booths do you need?

As an actual historian I like that its a historic district and the Wood Brick Pavement, which exists nowhere else in Cleveland is cool. And they do take pains to highlight the history, albeit with their own bent.

Sometimes they also get some pretty good musical acts for the courtyard area, then again there are some truly awful acts to be found busking around the festival.

I miss the tables of people trying to get you involved in their causes, the festival sort of had a point then. Now its a bit too commercial.

Still, its fun for a couple of Hours.