After Going Virtual Last Year, Orange’s International Street Fair Returns

The historic downtown district of Old Towne Orange was less hectic than usual last September, as festivities for the Orange International Street Fair were held virtually due to COVID-19. For Labor Day weekend 2021, the fair returns to the plaza and surrounding streets.

An annual event since 1973, the street fair originally was a way for the city of Orange to celebrate its centennial year. Mayor Jess Perez spearheaded the first fair, and it was organized by the city until the early 1980s when it became a sponsor and volunteer-driven undertaking (OISF, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) certified nonprofit founded in 1985).

Per operations director Brian Lochrie, “Our board collects fees on a linear foot basis from the vendors, arts and crafts booths, community booths and commercial booths, and along with the support of our sponsors, we use that money to pay for everything from…