Meredith Selectboard approves Boho Bazaar in August, last closure for Main St without event policy

MEREDITH — The Boho Bazaar will again be held in August, following a “one-time approval” by the selectboard, but members made it clear no other approvals will be granted for events that close down Main Street until a policy is in place.

“We do have a for-profit event that has been doing an event on Main Street over the last three years that would like to do it again over the summer,” Town Manager Judie Milner said during the regular meeting on March 30.

Milner suggested approving the plan in this instance, so the applicant, Alyssa McRell of Rise Boutique, can continue with the extensive planning involved.

“We have been having discussions about having nonprofits only on town property,” Milner said. “I know that it takes a lot to get an event like this in place, so I was wondering if the board would consider approving this event for 2026, and maybe getting our policy in place before the 2027 season.”

Selectboard member Lynn Leighton said a policy would be “wonderful,” but noted the board spoke about this in past meetings, including having nonprofits in any of the town’s parks. She was open to discussion to see where the rest of the board fell.

Chair Steve Aiken polled the board, starting with Mike Pelczar, who said the board is always talking about Main Street, and with special events they want to raise awareness to get people up there. It is closed for the street dance, which he called a “historical event,” and the craft fair shuts it down once a summer, but it makes a tough situation even tougher for traffic.

“I will say that our parks have always been nonprofit, and I will never change my vote on nonprofit,” Pelczar said. “Because once we start one, we’re going to have people down in Hesky Park that always want to have their for-profit events.”

When it comes to Main Street closures, he wants to make sure they aren’t overdone, because residents in the area are affected.

“We talk about the dangerousness of Main Street, the traffic, the congestion,” Pelczar said. “I think it’s a case by case. I’m not saying it is for profit, but I think we have to look at it. But I do think we have to support our nonprofits.”

Pelczar said coming up with a policy will be key. Leighton recommended having McRell speak about the event. This is the fourth year she has put on the bazaar, working with the community and local businesses that do pop-up events at markets.

“Just to bring more liveliness to Main Street and more people,” she said at the meeting. “I understand the traffic was an issue last year. I didn’t really get the feedback the previous two years, but last year I understand, because there were dance recitals up the street.”

McRell said she is from a city that has traffic all the time, and acknowledged in a small town it can be annoying. She also understands the park being for nonprofits, and she partnered with Heart and Hands Thrift Shop this past year. For an event on Main Street, she was waiting for an answer from the board to move forward.

She said it would be a “bummer” if the event were not to be approved, as she put in plenty of time and effort, to make the town “alive, more fun, and funky.”

“I get that people like things just so here, but I think a little bit of new stuff is nice, too,” McRell said.

The first year the event was held in Hesky Park, then  over the past two years, Main Street was shut down, because the event grew “tremendously.”

Selectboard member Jeanie Forrester asked if McRell had support from businesses on Main Street. McRell said despite some businesses moving and changing, she believes she does. McRell said foot traffic on Main Street helps the businesses, and even said she would prefer the street to be shut down on July 4 weekend, if it were up to her.

“I think it ruins businesses to have cars just stopped on Main Street rather than just foot traffic,” McRell said.

Forrester asked about feedback from businesses after the event, and McRell said normally it is great. She said when she moved onto Main Street as a business owner, many businesses closed during the arts and crafts festival. She never understood this, because it has always been a record day for her, which is what got her wheels turning in her head.

“Foot traffic, I think, is tremendous when the street is closed,” McRell said. “But, again, you had certain businesses that closed that didn’t want to be a part of it.”

McRell said the festival will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, and they would need the road closed just after the ending, to ensure all vehicles are off the road.

McRell said she is cognizant when creating the map of the event to not block businesses. She has seen it happen, and can understand why people get upset, so she makes sure to have food trucks and tents strategically placed.

“I am very empathetic to all that, for sure, as a business owner,” McRell said.

Pelczar asked Milner if she has heard any complaints from residents about Main Street being shut down. She replied she has heard some, but the town does a good job at making sure traffic flows.

“This closure is not a very big closure on Main Street, so there will be a lot more roads that you are capable of getting to, even though the road is closed,” Milner said, noting the closure is from Water to High streets. “I think what the business owner was looking for is whether or not she can do this this year, because it does take some planning.”

Aiken acknowledged a policy wasn’t going to be created that night, but motioned for a one-time approval of the Boho Bazaar for Aug. 15, with further discussion regarding future years to come.

Forrester amended the motion to include no other one-time approvals until a policy was created.

“I do share the concern about opening this up, but also, having been a Main Street director for many, many years, we want to try to make our Main Street businesses successful,” Forrester said. “I don’t know what the policy is, but we’ve got to get one in place.”

The board voted 4-1 to approve the event, with Pelczar dissenting. The selectboard will discuss a policy at the Monday, April 27 meeting.