Fry Street Fair

Fry Street Fair was a mostly annual event held by the University of North Texas' Delta Lodge in the historic Fry Street district in Denton, Texas. It was typically the biggest event of the year in Denton, with dozens of bands and other artists performing. [http://media.www.ntdaily.com/media/storage/paper877/news/2004/04/20/UndefinedSection/Fair-Brings.Denton.To.Dallas-1890955.shtml] Fact|date=February 2007

The first Fry Street Fair was held in 1979 when the lodge was part of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. While it was held every year, it was not always held on Fry Street; and for two years was not even held in Denton County, but in Deep Ellum in neighboring Dallas County [http://media.www.smudailycampus.com/media/storage/paper949/news/2004/04/16/Entertainment/Fry-Street.Fair.Takes.Over.Deep.Ellum.Clubs.Streets-2275142.shtml?sourcedomain=www.smudailycampus.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com] . In 2007, the fair moved once again but this time staying within the Denton city limits at the North Texas State Fairgrounds located in northern Denton away from the university.

The 2007 Fry Street Fair plans were tied to efforts to save the Fry Street district from demolition, though no 2008 fair has been organized as of 18 November 2007. Much of the area's businesses were demolished by United Equities in June to make room for a series of shops and chain restaurants to be called Fry Street Village, but not before an arsonist set blaze to The Tomato, a popular pizza parlor, on 27 June 2007.

Also in June, Delta Lodge officials announced [http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-frystreet_0621gl.ART0.State.Edition2.437eba0.html] that due to inability to keep the Fair profitable in the previous 3 years, the Fry Street Fair was cancelled and would not be held again. Delta Lodge began the process to sell its newly-built house on Fry Street, spurred by lack of tenants, the financial burden of a mortgage and a drop in Lodge membership. This effectively ended the Delta Lodge and Fry Street Fair's long history on Fry Street.

External links

* http://www.frystreetfair.com
* http://www.savefrystreet.com
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cxtaSiQlt4 John B. Denton Would Petition]