Fall Fleatique crafters, food vendors to set up at aquatorium due to Chess Park work

The annual street sale is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in downtown Monongahela.

Monongahela’s annual Fall Fleatique on the Mon is set for Saturday, but there will be some changes due to construction in the city.

All crafters, antique dealers and food vendors participating in the Fleatique will be relocated from Chess Park to the Monongahela Aquatorium. The event is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monongahela Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dorothea Pemberton said this temporary venue change ensures the safety and convenience of everyone involved while construction is underway at Chess Park.

“We did not want to cancel the event, so we continued forward,” Pemberton said. “But unfortunately, the construction in Chess Park in Monongahela will not be completed in time. Therefore, we have to move our crafters, antique dealers and food trucks to the Monongahela Aquatorium. We cannot use the park.”

Pemberton said flea market vendors will be located on Third Street.

The Monongahela Fleatique is the largest street sale in southwestern Pennsylvania and runs along a three-mile stretch of Main Street in Monongahela and New Eagle. Businesses, churches and homeowners participate in yard sales, bazaars, rummage sales, and garage sales.

The community-wide event has been happening for over 20 years now, according to Pemberton.

The Chess Park renovation involves recreation improvements, including gazebo repairs, sidewalk reconstruction and construction, light replacement, electrical upgrades and other related improvements. The $199,810 contract was awarded to Cronin Enterprises on June 16.

The project began in June, later than city officials expected.

Pemberton added that the city’s hands are tied since this is a county project, and they cannot make it go faster.

“Unfortunately, some of the farmers market was interrupted because of it as well,” Pemberton said. “Again, it’s beyond our control, things move a bit slowly, but we appreciate the County of Washington doing this.

“Overall, it’s a great thing for our city,” she added. “It’s just unfortunate that some of our events were postponed or moved. I am very happy the event is still taking place, even though I am bummed it won’t be in Chess Park, it will be fine.”