"Wow that's so sad my kids and I made a lot of memories there." A reader named Amanda posted that comment on September 3, 2026. It sits under Reading Recap's June story reporting that the Reading Fall Street Faire had been canceled indefinitely. She posted it in early September, the stretch of the year when the faire would normally have been coming up.
This fall's calendar still has plenty in it. The difference is who is hosting. Reading's fall gatherings in 2026 are being run by organizations that use their own buildings, lawns and programs: a church, an arts studio, the public library, the YMCA and the Chamber of Commerce. Two of the biggest days of the season share a single address on Woburn Street.
What the Rotary Letter Said
The Reading Rotary Club announced its decision in a letter to the community, which The Reading Post published on June 30. The club gave three reasons: rising operating costs, growing fundraising demands and fewer volunteers. The letter also covered the event's history:
When the Town of Reading passed the torch to Rotary in 2017, the club was able to stabilize the event and grow both registration and sponsorship. In recent years, however, that growth has flattened while expenses have continued to rise, making the event no longer viable for Rotary to manage.
The letter points out that Rotary is entirely volunteer-run and that the faire's proceeds went to the club's charitable causes. It thanks the Department of Public Works, including current and past Highway Supervisors, along with Reading Police and Fire and their chiefs. Those thank-yous show how much it took to run a street event: a public works crew, police and fire coordination, and a group of volunteers large enough to plan the whole thing.
As of early October, no news report says another organization has taken over the Street Faire, and no public comment on its end from town officials, the Select Board or the Chamber has turned up. The events filling the season are separate. Each has its own organizer and its own name.
One Address, Two Events a Month Apart
The first is the oldest. First Congregational Church scheduled its Olde Redding Faire for Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 25 Woburn Street. The church's announcement marked the event's 70th year and called it "the original Reading Fall Faire."
The advance listing named specific vendors. The food tent planned pulled pork, coleslaw, mac and cheese, Harrow's Chicken Pie, Nella's pizza and empanadas from Del Sur. The Bake Table moved indoors this year, next to the Silent Auction in the Sanctuary. Other stations included a Puzzles tent, a Book Room with children's books and vintage editions, a Jewelry Room, caricatures by artist A.J. Jerrett, and an 11 a.m. performance by the Reading Community Concert Band on the lawn. Part of the proceeds was set aside for two local partners, the Reading Food Pantry and Mission of Deeds. All of this comes from the preview. A published recap of the day has not appeared.
Four weeks later, the same address hosts its second event. Creative Arts at 25 Woburn Street holds its 4th Annual Pumpkin-Fest Family Festival and Fundraiser on Saturday, October 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. The town calendar lists a raffle, caricatures, face painting, vendors, arts and crafts, music with DJ Jacob, pumpkin decorating, a jack-o'-lantern contest and a costume parade.
Neither event needs Haven Street closed to traffic. Each runs on a property its host already uses and is organized by people who have done it before. The Olde Redding Faire has been going for 70 years, and Pumpkin-Fest is on its fourth.
The Common Gets Its Saturday
The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce runs the closest thing to a downtown crowd this October. Its Beer Garden on Reading Common, 16 Lowell Street, is set for Saturday, October 17, from 2 to 6 p.m., and admission is free. The Chamber calls it a recurring community event. It does not present it as a replacement for the Rotary faire.
The event page lists the 2 to 6 p.m. window as a new schedule. Breweries listed include Hopothecary Ales, Wandering Soul, Gentile Brewing and Coastal Mass Brewery. The food list includes Cupcake City, Del Sur Empanadas, Pizza World, Bangkok Spice and Swissbakers.
Del Sur appears on two lists. It was on the church faire's food lineup in September and is on the Chamber's in October. A local vendor working both events shows how the season is being put together. The hosts change from one weekend to the next, while some of the same small businesses work several of them.
The Chamber returns to the Common later in the season. It lists Reading's Tree Lighting Celebration for Sunday, November 29, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., with free admission.
Halloween Belongs to the Library and the Y
The same pattern holds for the Halloween calendar. Events listed so far for late October come from groups with their own buildings, and most take place inside them.
At the Burbank YMCA, 36 Arthur B. Lord Drive, the October family calendar lists Spooky Slime on Thursday, October 15, from 5 to 7 p.m., with registration required. It also lists a Haunted Hallway and Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Reading Public Library at 64 Middlesex Avenue has a fuller schedule:
- Paint a Pumpkin! for grades 6 to 12, Monday, October 19, 4 to 5 p.m., in Community Room A & B and on the Library Terrace.
- Theater Makeup Workshop for grades 4 to 7, the same evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Children's Program Room. The listing describes it as zombie makeup.
- Plant Lab pumpkin carving for grades 3 to 5, Tuesday, October 20, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Outdoor Patio. Registration opens October 6 at 3:30 p.m.
- Trick or Treat Storytime for ages 0 to 5, Friday, October 23, 10 to 11 a.m., with a costume parade and no registration.
- Why Not Wednesdays: Creepy Crafting on October 28, which the library lists as full.
The Library Terrace is new this year. The library announced the landscaped space on the building's northeast side in late May, with tiered seating for programs and an opening ceremony planned for June 4. This fall is the first chance to see what that seating holds once October programs start.
One October attraction is a private home. Reading Recap reported on October 4 that a Stranger Things display at 71 Tennyson Road is lit nightly from 6 to 10 p.m., and visitors are invited to bring food donations for the Reading Food Pantry.
One downtown tradition depends on this year's schedule. Last year, Reading Recreation held a Downtown Trick or Treat on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with participating local businesses. Families who go every year can watch the Recreation Division's announcements for the 2026 date.
The Rest of the Season, by Date
None of the remaining dates through Thanksgiving weekend falls on a Rotary-sized single day. Here they are in order:
- October 8: RMLD's Public Power Week Open House at 230 Ash Street, 3 to 6 p.m., with family activities and demonstrations.
- October 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17: The Quannapowitt Players' remaining performances of Rumors, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m. and the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
- October 10: The library's Seasonal and Holiday Decor Community Swap, noon to 3 p.m. The library accepts donations October 1 through October 9.
- October 13: "Connected Reading: An Open House for Our Community" at the library, 5 to 7 p.m.
- October 17: Beer Garden on Reading Common, 2 to 6 p.m.
- October 23: Trick or Treat Storytime in the morning, then Haunted Hallway and Trunk or Treat at the Burbank YMCA in the evening.
- October 24: Pumpkin-Fest at 25 Woburn Street, 5 to 7 p.m.
- November 2: "Backyard Bird Feeding" with Reading resident Dave Williams at the library, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., with no registration.
- November 4: "Reading Revolts," a look at Revolutionary-era documents and objects from Reading's history. The Antiquarian Society's biennial meeting starts at 6 p.m., and the exhibit opens at 6:30.
- November 5 and 7: The library's all-ages Día de los Muertos Movie & Craft, then a Puzzle and Game Swap from noon to 5 p.m.
- November 13 to 15 and 20 to 21: The Quannapowitt Players' 15th-season holiday-play program.
- November 29: Tree Lighting Celebration on the Town Common, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
The library also moved its Mara and Motoko concert for young children, first previewed for October 24, to Saturday, December 5, from 10 to 11 a.m.
A New Weekend Errand on Walkers Brook Drive
The biggest change to Reading's weekend routine this fall may be a grocery store, not an event. Trader Joe's is hiring crew members for store number 873 at 34 Walkers Brook Drive, in the former Staples at the Crossing at Walkers Brook. Reading Recap reported on September 26 that the store is aiming for a mid-October opening.
According to the Town of Reading's March 25 announcement, the grocer is taking 13,700 square feet, about 70 percent of the old Staples space. It will be the chain's 22nd location in Massachusetts. Until now, the closest stores for Reading shoppers have been in Burlington, Saugus and Peabody. Trader Joe's has not announced an opening day, and its store page for Reading still says "Coming Soon."
If you miss the Street Faire, or you're working out where your family fits into this new fall calendar, I'd be glad to talk about it. I follow Reading's calendar closely and can point you to the events that suit your household. Reach out to Evelyn Rockas. Let's Connect.
