Focus On 4th
Focus on Fourth compiled by Sands Spencer of the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association.
Fair Depends on Diverse Work Force
ver think about what it would be like to plan a party for 300,000 of your closest friends? Probably not, but that is exactly what the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association (FAMA) staff does twice every year. We are talking Street Fair here. The Mother Of All Fun and Shopping! The Big One. Arguably Tucson’s premier event.
Well, here is the recipe: take 4000 hours of labor add 2000 hours of planning, mix in 33 years of experience and history, 400 artist vendors, 40 food vendors, 15 bands, 35 street performers, eclectic 4th Avenue itself, then top off with the wonderful people of Tucson in liberal amounts.
FAMA has a full time staff of 3, plus 3 part timers. Where, you might ask, can someone come up with all that labor on short notice? FAMA decided to “think out of the box” some years ago and begin hiring the economically disadvantaged. Folks out of work. Most would be referred to as “homeless”. Some call Tucson home while some consider the road their only address.
Each Fair, FAMA hires approximately 50 individuals to take care of the many chores that go along with Fair production. These are the people who put in the majority of those 4,000 hours of labor it takes to put on each Fair, and every Fair we get compliments on the job they do for us. Some come back every year and are welcomed with enthusiasm, respected members of the “Fair Family”. Without this willing and capable work force the Street Fairs would be a different affair entirely. Less colorful, less interesting, less community friendly.
This year when you see one of our work force picking up, cleaning tables, or whatever, give them a thanks…I know from experience it means a lot! 
4th Avenue Street Fair Performance Schedule