Tenafly residents woke up to three inches of snow on the morning of Sunday, December 14. Despite the plowed and salted roads, the ground had a newly formed blanket of white powder, veiling the dark asphalt and melding with white lines. The snow was expected to end before 11 A.M., but as I watched the wind whip the snow pattering against my window, it didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Early that morning, sleepy homeowners scavenged through their garages for their shovels, gloves, and hats and cleared their driveways from the first snowy day of the season.
Local business owners had a different issue with the change in weather: the tents, tables, and banners of Tenafly’s annual Holiday Fair couldn’t possibly materialize out of the snow-clad sidewalks. Even if they had managed to create a winter wonderland, the below-freezing temperatures would be too extreme for a large crowd of wanderers venturing from booth to booth.
A joint effort between the Tenafly Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Committee, and the Tenafly Borough, the Holiday Fair in Tenafly is an annual, town-wide event to mark the beginning of the winter season and bring the community together. Over sixty vendors from local businesses and neighboring towns bring the magic of Bryant Park Winter Village and Union Square Holiday Market to Tenafly, with treats ranging from hot cocoa trucks and handcrafted goods to designer jewelry and crafts for children.
A new addition to this year’s Holiday Fair included THS’s brand-new Junior Chamber of Commerce, and a club dedicated to fostering the high school’s entrepreneurial aspirations and advised by Ms. Urbaez. As a direct bridge between the student and business communities of Tenafly, the club assists with and explores the technicalities behind running large events and beginning their business journey. Jack Altman (’28), the co-president, describes the collaboration as “the best way to get a head start on both understanding the journey of others, and learning how to apply their experiences to their own lives.” As a small business owner, Altman frequently takes part in town-hosted events such as Spring Fling and Fall Fest, “both great outlets for local vendors to advertise their goods or services and for the younger generation to explore the variety of products for sale.”
The Junior Chamber of Commerce, along with many other vendors, planned for their booth showcase last Sunday. Unfortunately, their plans were overhauled after the unanticipated change in weather. As the beginning of the fair drew closer and snow continued to fall, it became impossible to ignore the reality: the Holiday Fair could not happen this year.
Luckily, Chamber of Commerce President Jenny Jackson sorted out an alternative solution with her colleagues. Instead of a typical, outdoor market, several vendors would be spaced out among the restaurants and shops of Tenafly. For example, Mel’s Butcher Box hosted a karaoke competition and the hot cocoa bar, High Street Hub housed the JCC arts and crafts activities, and TFH Development presented a Kendra Scott pop-up with proceeds benefitting the Tenafly Nature Center.
The celebrations didn’t end at the fair. At 4 p.m., the menorah was lit by Rabbi Milstein from Temple Sinai—officially serving as the mark for the beginning of this holiday season. At 5 p.m., the Spring House opened its doors for an indoor celebration with a soft, cozy atmosphere accompanied by dinner and drinks.
Although the first snow of this winter season continued through Sunday, the Fair proved to embody more than just the vendors and shopping mood of the holiday season. A test of community spirit was given, and Tenafly responded promptly as Tenafly’s residents ventured down into town for the magical, reworked winter market.
