MIDDLEBORO – Bruno Mars’ song “That’s What I Like” set the mood on the Middleboro Town Hall lawn as thousands of people perused vendor tents, nibbled on cobs of Mexican Street corn or indulged in a plate-size portion of fried dough.
The Summer Sip & Stroll event held Saturday, July 20 drew in a crowd of over 3,000 people, according to event organizer Lorna Brunelle.
Brunelle runs the Burt Wood School of Performing Arts in Middleboro and this is the 15th year she has put on Sip & Stroll, which runs several times a year in different locations.
What was once a small craft fair contained inside the walls of the Performing Arts School is now a trademarked event in Massachusetts, according to Brunelle.
Sprawled out on the Town Hall lawn this Saturday were 90 vendor tents selling all sorts of wares from local honey, to beach art, to crocheted children’s hats. The majority of those vendors come from Middleboro, said Brunelle.
Kelly Fitzmaurice, who strolled the grounds with her sister-in-law Sam, her baby Violet and nephew Jaylen, said what she loves most about Sip & Stroll is seeing all the abilities her neighbors have.
“It’s cool to see how many people in your community are really talented. They live two streets down from you and they have all these talents that you didn’t know about,” she said, adding that she comes to Sip & Stroll every year.
Kelly Mora and Merissa Corliss, who live in Middleboro and have attended Sip & Stroll a few times before, keep coming back to support local businesses, see all the handmade crafts– and gobble down slices of Central Cafe pizza.
Their advice for first-time Sip & Strollers? “I’d definitely say try the food,” said Corliss.
Olivia Ahlman had the Sip & Stroll Summer edition marked on her calendar for months, she said.
She loves the variety of merchandise at the fair. You can find items “for your dogs, your pets, your child, shoes, jams, things for cooking. They have something here for everyone,” she said.
The event was worth the trek down from Martha’s Vineyard for Steven Benford, who was selling the artwork his wife makes out of rocks and sea glass.
“This is a really good show. It’s well attended by the community and it’s a good place to be,” Benford said.
For Lorna Brunelle, the most rewarding part of the experience is helping artists support themselves as they bring their dreams to fruition.
“A lot of the men and women here have left corporate America to be an artist and have been brave enough to say ‘I don’t care if I have a 401 bla bla bla, I want to be true to my art form,” she said.
Vendors have told her repeatedly how much the show helps them financially. Hearing that, she said, “I feel like I am part of the evolution of their story.”
Saturday’s Sip & Stroll event was funded in part by a grant from The Middleborough Cultural Council. Proceeds benefit the Burt Wood School of Performing Arts.