The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-09-17
STREET FAIRS.
They Are Proving Very Popular
Wherever Held.
Winona and FaribauIt Indulge II
Them This Week.

The street fair idea is getting to
be quite popular in the smaller cities
and they are being conducted quite
successfully. The scheme is said to
have originated in Faribault where
the first one was held on Sept. %,
1894. Yesterday it held its regular
fall street fair and it is said to have
been very successful. On Tuesday
and Wednesday Winona held one,
conducted on quite an elaborate
scale, and the Republican in an extern
ded write-up gives very good idea
of it.
The Faribault plan is very simple
one and consists of an organization of
the merchants for the purpose Of hav-
ing the matter in charge, but the fair
is conducted at small expense. There
is no entry fee or any expense to the
exhibitor whatever. Instead of
small cash premium, as at county
fairs, each merchant offers as a
premium some useful article out of
his stock, often a first and second
premium. On the day set for the fair
the farmers bring in exhibits of their
products and turn them over to the
merchant Offering prizes for them.
The merchant takes the name of the
exhibitor and places numbered card
on the exhibit, which is then placed
on exhibition in front of his store.
The name Of the exhibitor is not
given, so that there shall be no favor
itism in making the awards. The re-
suit of the Faribault plan is said to
be that where the merchants take
hold of the matter, the whole street
is lined with exhibits, and it has
the effect of bringing the merchant
and farmer nearer together. On the
day Of the fair, the merchants offer
special bargains in all lines.
Winona has changed this plan some
what, making it rather more
elaborate, and we should judge much
better and far reaching in it's results.
There the fair is extended over three
days and one has just been held, COM
mencing Tuesday and closing today.
There the merchants and manufac-
turers make exhibits as we'll as the
farmers. There two or three halls
are used for exhibits, as well as dis
play on the streets. One hall is de-
voted exclusively to needle and fancy
work. and one to the display of mer-
chants and manufacturers. Quarters
are also fixed up for the display of
stock of all kinds, The streets were
finely decorated, and the Republican
in it's write-up gives general descrip-
tion of the displays and decorations
in the windows and in front of the
different stores. All Of the merchants
offered special bargains in their goods,
Besides this there are numberless
features put forward for the enter
tainment of the visitors. There was
bicycle parade in the evening;
parade of the school children; a run
by the fire department, speed trials
on one of the streets, band concerts,
etc. Excursion trains were run from
all directions and the city given up to
a gala time. The Republican states
that there were over fourteen hun
dred entries made by farmers.
Mankato ought to look into this
matter of street fairs with view of
holding one. There is yet plenty of
time for one this fall, and with lit
tie push could be made great sue
cess, proving beneficial to both the
farmers and the merchants and manu-
focturprc