Make shoes and eat Japanese fried chicken at Hester Street Fair

Hester Street Fair is looking like it will be the first seasonal market to get Mother Nature’s endorsement when it opens this weekend.

The Lower East Side fair at the intersection with Essex Street reopens on Saturdays (and select Sundays) beginning May 14 through Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Much of the real estate goes to local designers, artists and boutiques, but there’s plenty of food as well — new this year are EN Japanese Brasserie serving its take on fried chicken, sub sandwiches and slices from Scarr’s Pizza, Jamaican jerk chicken cooked on a charcoal grill at Spur Tree and classic Mexican grub and drinks from Gordo’s Cantina.

Vendors will also host various hands-on workshops like fermenting, lamp-making, tie-dying and even shoemaking.

Hester Street Fair also likes a fun theme, whether it’s a salute to the fruit of summer (Watermelon Day) or supporting emerging artists whose work has have yet to find a home at a store or gallery (Indie Record Day). Here’s the schedule of special days planned for this year’s fair:

June 4 — Sugar Shack Day
June 5 — Seward Park Garage Sale
June 11 — Wellness Day
July 9 — Textile Week Celebration
July 16 — Vegan Food Fest
July 30 — Ice Cream Social
Aug. 6 — Jamaican Independence Day Celebration
Aug. 13 — Design & Art Fair
Sept. 3 — Pet Day
Oct. 15 — Harvest Day
Oct. 23 — Grubstreet Food Festival