Celebrate Mother's Day at the 40th annual Olde York Street Fair
If you go
What: Olde York Street Fair
When: 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 10
Where: Continental Square in downtown York
Cost: Free
Parking: Free parking will be available on surrounding streets and paid parking will be available in the Philadelphia and King Street garages. No parking will be allowed along Market Street from Newberry to Pine and George Street from Philadelphia to King starting at 7 a.m.
Street closures: Market Street from Newberry to Pine and George Street from Philadelphia to King will close to traffic at 8:15 a.m.
Other info: Pets and bicycles are prohibited.
Watch on TV: View White Rose Community Television coverage on Comcast channel 18 or live stream coverage at wrct.tv .
For more information: Visit yorkcity.org/oldeyorkstreetfair or email events@yorkcity.org .
York's Mother's Day tradition is back!
About 75,000 (maybe more, if the weather is nice) are expected to gather downtown for the 40th annual Olde York Street Fair on Sunday, organizer Mary Yeaple said.
With more than 100 craft vendors, live entertainment, food and children's activities, the fair has become a popular spot to bring your mom or the whole family for Mother's Day.
Here are some street fair activities you won't want to miss.
Shop for mom
More than 100 craft vendors, up from about 80 last year, will line the streets near Continental Square Sunday. Fair-goers can shop for jewelry, crafts and wreaths at some of the new vendor booths, but Yeaple said guests won't want to miss some of the fair favorites.
Richard Aldorasi's silk scarves booth is always very popular because it's interactive and makes for a great, unique gift for mom, Yeaple said. At the booth, guests color their own scarves, ensuring that each guest takes home an original that can't be found anywhere else.
Take a photo with mom
Tyler Brown Photography is another fair favorite. Guests can pose for professional portraits while holding signs wishing their mothers and grandmothers a Happy Mother's Day. Photos cost $10 for a 5x7, Tyler Brown photographer Carol Brown said. But don't wait until the last minute to get your photo taken. Brown said the booth is typically busy from open to close.
Give mom a shout-out
Pay a visit to White Rose Community Television, stationed in Continental Square, and give your mom a shout-out on TV. WRCT will be broadcasting the event live on Comcast channel 18.
See live entertainment
Entertainment lineup
Continental Square:
12:30 p.m. — William Penn sophomore Danara Muldrow (National Anthem)
West Market Street Stage:
12:30-3 p.m. — Kayla Kroh (pop)
3:30-6 p.m. — Elijah Cross (indie)
Cherry Lane Stage:
12:30-3 p.m. — Amber Waves (Celtic)
3:30-6 p.m. — Don't Look Back (oldies)
East Market Street Stage:
12:30-3 p.m. — B-Tropical (reggae)
3:30-6 p.m. — The Ok-Oks (indie)
First block of North George Street:
1-2:30 p.m. — Kay's Reflections (dancers)
3-4 p.m. — Carn Holman and Kostoff (jazz)
Strolling:
12:30-3:30 p.m. — Jerry Brown (The Monkey Man)
1:30-4 p.m. — Pete Geist (visual comedian)
2:30-4:30 p.m. — Ronn Benway (musician)
Every year, the Olde York Street Fair's entertainment lineup includes mostly local and regional acts. But this year, Amber Waves, a Celtic family band from Colorado, will make its Olde York Street Fair debut.
"It's Mother's Day; It's nice to feature a family band," Yeaple said.
Also new this year will be Hanover doo-wop group Don't Look Back and York singer Elijah Cross.
Kid's Fun Block
The Kid's Fun Block, at the first block of South George Street, is a great stop to make for families.
This year, the Olde York Street Fair is adding a new inflatable.
"We're increasing each year because the area is so popular, and we want to make sure kids aren't waiting in line terribly long," Yeaple said.
Children can bounce around in seven inflatables, including a slide, obstacle courses and traditional bounce houses, Yeaple said. For $10, children can purchase a wristband for unlimited bouncing.
Other Fun Block activities include carnival games, face painting, coloring pages and entertainment from Ryan "The Bug Man" Bridge.
Eat fair food
From crab cakes to funnel cakes to barbeque, the Olde York Street Fair has something to whet your appetite.
Guests can expect to see about 15 to 20 new food vendors this year, filling all of the spaces on Market Street and the first block of North George Street, Yeaple said.
All of the food vendors have partnered with a non-profit organization and will donate 50 percent of their proceeds to that non-profit, she said. Sherri's Crab Cakes, for example, will donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society, and Big Fat Daddy's will donate to Bell Socialization Services.
Donate blood
The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the York County Historical Society Museum, 250 E. Market St., York.
If you plan to donate, Yeaple suggests heading to the blood drive first, and then treating yourself to an ice cream sundae inside the Historical Society Museum before checking out the rest of the fair.
Walk-ins are welcome, but scheduled appointments will take precedence, Yeaple said. Call 1-800-RedCross or visit www.redcross.org to schedule an appointment. The first 25 donors will receive a $10 gift certificate to Central Family Restaurant.