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Date: 1/31/2023
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. 9 to prepare for this year’s fair.
The 164th Belchertown Fair and Parade will take place on Sept. 22, 23, and 24, and vendor applications will be posted on March 15.
This year’s theme is “Blue Jeans and Fair Dreams,” and the committee credited Casey Kibbe with suggesting this year’s theme.
“The theme resonated with the Fair Committee members this year,” Belchertown Fair Committee member Shawn Lindholm said.
She added, “Blue jeans crossed all boundaries and walks of life from farmers to school kids to the mom working at home in the garden. It also encompasses the agriculture groups that Belchertown has. The fair dreams aspect, with COVID-19 cancelling the fair for a couple years, it invokes the hope that we can look forward to the fun that fair brings. People spend all year dreaming about the fair.”
The Belchertown Fair made its return last year after a two year absence due to COVID-19 and the theme was “Flock to the Fair.”
The Belchertown Fair is something residents and surrounding community members enjoy going to every year.
Lindholm said, “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.”
For the first time, the Fair Committee will be opening a logo contest for this year’s fair according to Lindholm.
“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.
She added that vendors have begun requesting booth space and there are about four or five bands lined up for this year.
The exhibit hall booklet of all the categories you can enter your work in will be out in May or June.
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.
The Belchertown Fair and Parade Committee added, “It is time to start thinking about what that theme means to you. There are multiple ways to roll the theme into this coming year’s fair. We are so excited to see what your creativity will bring in September.”
Lindholm added volunteers for the fair are always needed, and the Fair Committee meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:15 p.m. in Freedom Hall behind the Senior Center.
For more updates on this year’s fair, those interested can visit www.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.