IPSWICH — For 37 years, Olde Ipswich Days has been a rite of the last weekend in July, and the venerable arts and crafts festival will again take place on the South Green this year, beginning tomorrow.
Organizer Susan Burton expects 61 artisans to display their handiwork, down a bit from last year and deliberately so.
"Every once in a while, we'd look up and think, 'It's just too crowded,'" Burton said.
The festival began as a Chamber of Commerce event in 1971, with an art show, tours of historic homes and a flea market that was originally spread out over two weekends.
As usual, the Boy Scouts will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and the Class of 2009 will offer slush. The Masonic Lodge won't be ladling out chowder this year, but the Ipswich Clambake Co. is ably filling the void, Burton said, with a portion of their proceeds going to the Ipswich Music and Drama Association. The association is a parent support group that promotes fine arts in the town's schools.
A Saturday night block party on Market Street has come to be an integral part of Olde Ipswich Days, and Another Friday Night is on the bill again this year, after getting rained out last year, Burton said.
Another long-standing feature of the event is the public library's book sale, held during the day all three days.
This is a rain or shine event, and although the forecast isn't favorable, "I hope they're so wrong," Burton said.
If you go
What: Olde Ipswich Days Arts and Crafts Fair
When: Tomorrow through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily., rain or shine
Where: South Village Green at the intersection of Route 1A and Argilla Road in Ipswich
Admission: Free
Parking: Free parking either at the fair or in the town parking lot on South Main Street (Route 1A) next to the Visitor Center
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