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Date: 1/16/2024
BELCHERTOWN — Planning for this year’s version of one of Belchertown’s longest running and anticipated events of the year is in beginning phases.
The Belchertown Fair and Parade Committee met on Jan. 8 to prepare for this year’s fair.
The 165th Belchertown Fair and Parade will take place on Sept. 20, 21, and 22, and vendor applications will be posted soon.
This year’s theme is “Barn In The USA,” and the committee credited Heidi Gutekenst with suggesting this year’s theme.
“Thank you, Heidi, for the great idea and now everyone can start thinking about what this theme means to you and our community in regard to our fair,” Belchertown Fair Committee member Shawn Lindholm said.
The Belchertown Fair Committee put a request out on Facebook asking for suggestions for this year’s theme.
Lindholm added, “When we are deciding on a theme, there are a couple of things that we keep in mind. One is how easy is it going to be to decorate or to convert that theme into action. We have a photo booth contest every year where we encourage the various groups to decorate their booths and there is a prize for that booth.”
When deciding a theme, the committee also thinks about the parade floats and marchers ability to incorporate the theme with their display, according to Lindholm.
“Barn in the USA, you can go so many different ways with that. Whether it’s the actual farmers or the cows, horses, animals that may be in a barn,” Lindholm added.
The Belchertown Fair theme last year was “Blue Jeans and Fair Dreams.”
The Belchertown Fair is something residents and surrounding community members enjoy going to every year.
“I love the fair. It is the highlight of the fall. There is a lot of work to putting it together and when everything runs smoothly and everybody is happy and all the comments from that weekend, that is the best feeling,” Lindholm shared.
She added, “This fair is the heart of the community and everything we want Belchertown to be. Everybody from all works of life coming together for a weekend. There are friends who maybe haven’t seen each other in a while and the kids are making memories. It seems everyone in town comes out to the fair.”
Two years ago, the Fair Committee started a logo contest that Lindholm said should be announced again soon.
There is a logo contest for the adults and a poster contest for children through the schools that are used for their advertising flyers.
“We are going to offer a small prize so everyone should be on the lookout for that either on our website, Facebook page or your local newspaper,” Lindholm said.
The exhibit hall booklet of all the categories is also in the beginning stages.
The exhibit hall gives opportunities for local farmers, crafters, photographers and special interest groups to enter unique displays and showcase their work according to the Belchertown Fair Committee.
Lindholm added volunteers for the fair are always needed, and the Fair Committee meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in Freedom Hall behind the Senior Center.
For more updates on this year’s fair, those interested can visit belchertownfair.com or the Belchertown Fair Facebook page.
Residents can also email belchertownfair@gmail.com for any questions or interest in participating in the fair and parade.
“We always listen to either good or bad comments from the public. We address the issues and any comment from the community helps and are always looking for suggestions,” Lindholm concluded.