Crowds fill First Street during last year’s Peddlers’ Fair. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

   The second Saturday in August is creeping up fast, which in Benicia means it is time to put the peddle to the metal. It is the 2018 Peddlers’ Fair.

   This Saturday, more than 200 volunteers will join Benicia residents, businesses, vendors and visitors for the Peddlers’ Fair, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. It all began in 1963 when a handful of First Street antique dealers set up tables outside St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to raise money for the house of worship. It became an annual tradition that has only blossomed in crowd and vendor size of the years, making it one of Benicia’s most anticipated events of the year. 

   Visitors of the fair will find everything from antiques and collectibles but also handicrafts, foods, plants, succulents, jewelry, furniture and more, all available to purchase. One popular returning vendor this year, Peddlers’ Fair Chair Julie Mackenzie said, is the Mt. Diablo Iris Society.

   “They sell out of prized iris mulch every year,” she said. 

   In addition to the food and item booths, there will also be a variety of other activities. Returning this year is the Kids Korner Arts & Crafts booth located next to the Capitol at First and G streets. The Kids Korner was partially funded through donations by the Valero Benicia Refinery and is free for all to use, although kids must have adult supervision.

   Also returning is antique appraiser Steve Yvasaka who will offer one free appraisal of shoppers’ new purchases at the fair. 

   Musical entertainment is back in abundance. Steve Logoteta will be bringing the Vallejo Community Band back to the fair for a Jazz Concert in the Park at 3 p.m. There will also be a new act to the festival this year: the Benicia Celtic Music Session. The group consists of members of all skill levels who jam and perform such Celtic favorites as “Irish Washerwoman,” “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” and more. They meet on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at Round Table Pizza but have also performed in other venues such as the Vallejo Yacht Club. The group will be playing the Peddler’s Fair in the morning. 

   As always, the sales proceeds benefit the St. Paul’s Historic Trust, which raises money to preserve the church. This year, Mackenzie said the trust money will go toward restoration of the stained-glass windows in the sanctuary. Those wishing to tour the historic church will have docent-led tours of the facility available throughout the day. 

   Overall, Mackenzie hopes visitors will have a great day at the Peddlers’ Fair and that out-of-town visitors will use the opportunity to patronize Benicia’s businesses. Some businesses will have booths set up, including the new coffee shop farm & Flour which opens Friday. 

   “We’ve run this fair for 55 years, and we hope to continue to run it maybe another 50 years because St. Paul’s will still be here,” Mackenzie said. “Our buildings will always need to be preserved. We’ve had a successful run for 55 years and are looking forward to another 55 years in the community.”

   The Peddlers’ Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11 along First Street. Admission is free, but pets are not allowed. For more information, visit beniciapeddlersfair.org. 

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