The 53rd Annual Canterbury Fair Location:   Canterbury, NH - Town Center Date:   Saturday, July 30th, 2011 Time:   9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Admission:   FREE! Parking Donation:   $5.00 per car

	Click to download a 2010 Event PDF Flyer!

Press Release!

For the official word on the 2011 event, check out the press release for the 2011 Canterbury Fair... -- prepared by John Bouton, Tel. (603) 783-9565.

Musicians to be Featured at the 2011 Canterbury Fair...

Home Folks (Bluegrass) @ 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Geddes Road Band (Bluegrass) @ 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

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 today.

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 2011 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! Price: $10.00
• Hot Dogs
• Sausages
• Hamburgers
• Veggie Burgers
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Frappe Bar
• Lemonade
• Hot Buttery Popcorn
• 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 fiber spinning, rug braiding, blacksmithing
• Canterbury Historical Society: "The Churches of Canterbury: 1727-2011" Elkins Memorial Building
• Morris Dancers - Canterbury's Morris Dancing Team will be joined by other regional Morris Dance Teams. Accompanied by Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman
• Farm Animal Displays for kids of all ages!
• Canoe Polo in the Fire Pond
  
  
• LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES by...
  
  Home Folks (Bluegrass) @ 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  delivers a diverse blend of hard driving bluegrass with gospel, folk, country, and a little bit of Celtic. This group combines a respect for tradition with an ear for innovation.
  
  The Geddes Road Band (Bluegrass) @ 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Their brand of country bluegrass is so dang hot, you’ll have to head to the frappe bar after their set — Whooee!

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
• The Legendary 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! Little ones will love getting
faces painted, plus enjoy the gentle challenges of familiar and favorite old-fashioned games and crafts. Win prizes and amaze your friends. And when you're done, enjoy a nose-to-nose “Hello!” with friendly farm animals and super-soft alpacas. For more information on the games, or to help out managing them please contact Kate Luczko at (603) 661-7822. 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.