New Braintree Annual Country Fair to be held Sept. 11

By Nate Cheever

Turley Publications Reporter

NEW BRAINTREE - —For residents hoping to reconnect with each other and rejuvenate a sense of community, there is nothing like an annual country fair tomay help to do just that. A long-standing tradition in many neighboring communities, the country fair seems to be as much a staple of rural New England as summer corn-on-the-cob.

This year, New Braintree will host its 39^th Annual Country Fair on Saturday, Sept. 11 in the center of town. It is the perfect time of year, residents say, because it is right on the threshold between summer and autumn, with great weather and the best produce of both seasons. Residents can enjoy a day of fun outdoors participating in group activities, browsing the tables of vendors, or just getting reacquainted with each other. The latter is very important, according to former fair committee chair Tom Fiorelli. “Every town has an identity,” he said. New Braintree, he explained, is chiefly a tightly-knit farming community, which is reflected in the spirit of the town fair. “We are like a farm family,” he went on, noting the town’s rural, agricultural roots. “There is a certain amount of pride in this town.”

This year’s fair will feature many of the same attractions as past fairs, including hay rides, an antique car exhibit, a library book sale, a kids’ road race, a beer and wine tent, blacksmith demonstrations, live country music, an evening bonfire, vendors throughout the day selling food and art work, and much more. However, there will also be a few new attractions, such a chicken barbeque and a birds of prey show hosted by the Hardwick Arts Lottery. Surveys completed by participants in last year’s fair in particular lauded the assortment of children’s entertainment, including a bounce house, a horse drawn wagon, a toddler play area, and a pet parade. What hasn’t changed about the fair throughout the years, according to Fiorelli, is that it remains a day of recreation for all ages.

If there is one thing that concerns long-time residents, it is the future of the fair. For Fiorelli in particular, a main concern is community volunteerism in preparing for events like the town fair. “There is a small pool of people who do everything,” he said. Three years ago when the quality of the fair was dwindling, Fiorelli, then president of the town historical society, wrote a letter to different town organizations urging them to get involved and help him revitalize the fair. “The fair almost died,” he lamented. Luckily, he said, the town pulled together and the fair was revived. This year’s fair is still in need of volunteers, especially to help with set up and clean up.

Sen. Steven Brewer and state Rep. Ann Gobi will lead the opening ceremony at the start of this year’s fair, to be followed by a moment of silence to commemorate the victims of 9/11. American flags will be passed out to attendees.

The town fair committee would like to personally thank local businesses that sponsor the fair, such as Glidden’s Landscaping, Spencer Savings Bank, North Brookfield Savings Bank, Ahearn’s, and many more. Anyone wanting further details on this year’s fair can visit the fair’s website, www.newbraintreecountryfair.org.