Fifty years ago, a handful of Collingswood residents decided to close off Haddon Avenue and throw a party. Half a century later, the Collingswood May Fair has become one of the most beloved civic traditions in South Jersey — and one of the best free street festivals in the greater Philadelphia region.
The 50th annual May Fair is a milestone that deserves some reflection. What started as a small community gathering has grown into a full-scale festival that fills over a mile of Haddon Avenue with hundreds of vendors, multiple live music stages, and food representing restaurants from across South Jersey and Philadelphia.
For longtime Collingswood residents, the May Fair is less about the vendors and more about the feeling. It's the one day a year when the whole borough spills outside, runs into everyone it knows, and remembers why it chose to live here.
The event draws crowds from well outside the borough — families driving in from Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Haddonfield, and as far as Philadelphia. For businesses along Haddon Avenue, it's one of the biggest days of the year. For the community itself, it's a reminder that South Jersey still knows how to throw a proper neighborhood celebration.
The Collingswood May Fair runs rain or shine. Check the official Collingswood Borough website for exact dates, parking information, and the full vendor lineup.
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