The 49th Annual Canterbury Fair Location:   Canterbury, NH - Town Center Date:   Saturday, July 28th, 2007 Time:   9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Admission:   FREE! Parking Fee:   $3.00 per car

	Click to download a 2007 Event PDF Flyer!

For the official word on the 2007 event, check out the press release for the 2007 Canterbury Fair Now Available! -- prepared by Katie Dunn, Tel. (603) 783-4999.

About the Fair...

A story of enterprise, dedication and community effort that has literally put Canterbury, NH, on a national map showing outstanding events over the past 25 years*.

In 1959, The Canterbury Ladies Benevolent Society (LBS) added a chicken barbecue to the "Canterbury Country Fair and Bazaar" it had been sponsoring for several years. The crowd swelled that year. Net income increased tenfold, from about $200 to more than $2000. That was the beginning of the Canterbury Fair as we know it in the year 2007.

Proceeds from the early fairs were used primarily to furnish and equip a "new vestry" or Parish House which opened in 1958. The former vestry was destroyed by a fire in 1943. That blaze also burned down the a church, a Grange or Union hall, and a store, all in Canterbury Center, and two nearby farm houses. A new church was opened on the site of the old one in 1946, its mortgage being at least partially paid off with funds earned by the LBS over several years.

The LBS members alone continued to sponsor and manage the fair, always on the last Saturday in July, until it became too large an event to manage by themselves. In 1966, the LBS was joined by a number of other Canterbury organizations, the PTA, the Fire Department and Auxiliary, the Canterbury Women's Club and the church council and trustees, to produce and operate the fair, sharing the proceeds with a newly-created Canterbury Fund. The fund was used for scholarships and family emergencies.

The fair continued to grow and thrive and received recognition as part of a National Geographic Society listing of outstanding attractions nation-wide. The crowd was estimated at 10,000 people in 1981, its peak year.

*A map distributed by the National Geographic Society showing outstanding attractions in the United States lists the Canterbury Fair.

Schedule of Events

Food & Drink

The Canterbury Fair has always meant a good time, with lots of good things to eat and drink. This year's offerings include:

• Chicken Barbecue provided by the Sunset Mountain Fish and Game Club! Meal includes 1/2 chicken BBQ'd with Sunset Mt. Club secret sauce, 2 kinds of home-baked beans, fresh coleslaw, roll, cranberry sauce, iced tea or lemonade! Price: $8.00
• "Shrimp Rolls "
• Hot Dogs
• Sausages
• Hamburgers
• Veggie Burgers
• Fruit Stand
• Frappe Bar
• Lemonade
• Popcorn
• Ice Cream
• Cotton Candy
• Don't forget the baked goods, and many fine treats at the craft tables

Entertainment

There's always something fun to see or do at the Canterbury Fair. The highlights of this year's fair include:

• Artisan Demonstrations: Featuring wood turning, weaving, spinning, and a working blacksmith. Come see the Furniture Masters.
• Canterbury Historical Society: This year, an Open House to see progress on renovations to the old Elkins Library building.
• Morris Dancers - Several performances on the Green throughout the day
• Farm Animal Displays for kids of all ages!
• Canoe Polo in the Fire Pond
• LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES: by "The Muzzeys" featuring Folk, Country and Gospel Music, and "The Mink Hill Band" featuring the best in Blue Grass Music
• Square Dancing: Featuring the Concord Coach Squares

Craft Tables and Vendors

The Canterbury Fair is famous for it's wide variety of hand made crafts and other goodies on display all day long. This year we expect nearly fifty participating vendors to make the selection ever more diverse. While you're here, don't forget the following traditional Fair favorites:

• Annual Library Book Sale
• What-Not Sale
• Baked Goods Table
• Antique Dealers

Children's Activities

The Canterbury Fair is first and foremost a place where kid's of all ages can have fun! Come participate in a host of games of skill and luck for kids big and small. Win prizes and amaze your friends. A complete list of games will be listed here soon! For more information on the games, or to help out managing them please contact Sarah Tirrell-Wysocki at (603) 783-4678. Thanks!

Directions

From I-93 (North or South)

Get off at Exit 17, and head East on 3A (Hoit Road) about a half mile until intersection with Route 132. Turn Left on Route 132, heading North. Continue 0.8 miles, eventually turning right onto New Road, and follow signs for Fair and Fair Parking.

From Route 106

Take Shaker Road at the lights by the Beanstalk on Route 106 in Loudon. Continue on Shaker Road 1.7 miles, turning left on to Baptist Road. Continue towards town center, following signs for Fair parking.