Artists and vendors will have another day each month in downtown Fresno to beckon buyers.

City officials announced Wednesday that the new street fair Why Not Wednesday starts Sept. 18. The event — taking place the third Wednesday monthly — will feature vendor booths, live entertainment, food trucks, and of course, artists.

“It represents a renewed commitment to revitalizing our downtown area and increasing engagement with local events,” Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

The traditional ArtHop — on the first Thursday of the month  — will continue, limited to indoor art venues.

In July, City Councilmember Miguel Arias and other city officials expressed concern that ArtHop had gotten too big.  A crush of outdoor and unlicensed vendors were causing safety and logistical problems, they said.

The city restricted vendors at ArtHop starting Aug. 1, limiting the event to indoor venues. Changes did not go over well with the artist and food truck community.

Joseph Rodriguez, an artist and member of the group ReHop Fresno, held a protest sign in the background of the news conference on Fulton Street.

“We feel like it’s an overreach of the city. They destroyed a beloved event, taking away the outdoor activities for ArtHop. And now they’re trying to push it to a third Wednesday. And we feel like the community input was not sought after,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez questioned whether the new event would be a success.

Dyer, ever the optimist, says it will be a smash hit.

“I do believe that this is going to take off,” Dyer said.

Related Story: ArtHop: A Night of Resistance, Confusion, Emotion, and Scams

Downtown Partnership to Lead

The Downtown Fresno Partnership will organize the new event, featuring up to 150 vendors and even more food trucks.

The city will close Fulton between Fresno and Mono streets while providing policing, trash service, and restrooms.

Dyer did not have an exact amount the city will spend on the event. Money would come from the city’s special events budget.

“The benefit far outweighs the cost, because of the number of people we’re going to draw down here downtown, not only ArtHop, but also on Why Not Wednesdays,” Dyer said.

Retail vendors and food trucks will need to register and pay a per-event fee. The rate, Downtown Fresno Partnership CEO Elliott Balch said, would be $50 a month for vendors, and $100 for food trucks, plus a $24 yearly business permit from the city. The money will help offset event costs, and guarantee a spot on Fulton.

Organizers will waive fees for booths operated by minors.

Information about the event and registration can be found here.

Started in 1997, the Fresno Arts Council organized ArtHop to showcase artists and galleries in downtown Fresno. The event spread to many locations around downtown and the Tower District, including displays at City Hall. An estimated 15,000 attend every first Thursday of the month.

ReHop Organizer Skeptical

Rodriguez said he does not plan to participate in Why Not Wednesday, opting to continue with ArtHop instead.

He did not like the idea of needing a permit to sell art. If it was easy to do, Rodriguez would not have a problem with it.

“When you make art, we should be allowed to show it and to sell it because it’s something that you’ve created,” Rodriguez said. “The problem is that the city is taking an event and ripping it in half to have a party on the third Wednesday when nobody asked for this.”

Arias recognized the new event will be different.

“Not everyone will be will be happy those including those carrying signs behind us,” Arias said, acknowledging Rodriguez. “Change might be difficult for some, but change is something that we all have to be able to embrace, and make the best out of it.”

Albee Sanchez with Frida Café, said the Wednesday street fair would be safer and more organized while offering more opportunities.

“We’re creating another event that’s so wonderful for downtown. As opposed to just having one event, we’re going to have two a month now. And that’s just the beginning,” Sanchez said.