The Community Partner Fair returns to UC Riverside on Sept. 20, kicking off a new academic year in which UCR Staff Assembly hopes to build more campus involvement.

The fair will feature about 40 vendors, a KUCR DJ playing music, prize drawings, and free ice cream and shaved ice.

It will once again take place outdoors under the arches in front of Tomás Rivera Library, which proved to be a popular location when the fair returned last year. In previous years, it had been inside at the HUB and was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Over 400 people attended last year’s fair, said Erika Leon, Staff Assembly president.

The event is meant to be informative and fun, providing staff members with information on a variety of services available to them in a festive setting, she said.

The fair allows campus departments and units to showcase their services, from office supplies to health and wellness services. It also allows employees to meet face-to-face with outside vendors providing a variety of services.

“It’s really meant to be the 411 of UCR,” said Melanie Ramiro, Staff Assembly vice president.

As the fall quarter begins, Staff Assembly leadership hopes to use the event to encourage staff members to participate with the organization in different ways over the course of the academic year.

Leon said they want let people know that there are opportunities to serve in a limited capacity, such as serving on committees or taking part in recognition and professional development activities. The group will have sign-up sheets at its table.

“We really want to build out the name of Staff Assembly,” Leon said. “We want staff members to be part of our events and part of our success.”

The Community Partner Fair will be held Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. under the Tomás Rivera Library arches.