The New Ipswich Congregational Church will celebrate the 160th Children’s fair on Saturday, August 21 from 10 AM to 3 PM, on the grounds of the New Ipswich Congregational Church located at 156 Main Street. A majority of the money raised from the fair is distributed to local children and youth organizations in the Monadnock Region. The Children’s Area features games for children of all ages along with hayrides, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting and more. Other areas not to be missed include the Book Sale, Garden Shoppe and Gift Basket Raffle. The annual school supplies drive will take place again this year. Please bring any donations of back packs and school supplies items to the fair; no item is too small. The drop off point for these items will be at Butch’s Country Store. The items collected will be donated to children in need in the area. There are some changes happening this year. The white elephant and auction areas will not be returning. With internet and online sales sites, these areas had been receiving less and less quality items to create a popular place to bargain. Another change is that because we could not have the traditional fair last year due to Covid-19 we had an amazing response to our presale of our calendar raffle and have added it as a permanent addition to the fair. For only $10 you get assigned a number and if that number is drawn throughout the month you win a prize. Your number will be thrown back in the barrel each time and you can win more prizes. You can also pre-buy tickets for the Chicken BBQ this year. Both of these options to purchases in advance can be bought in person or through our new Venmo account. You can find us on Venmo at [email protected]. Chicken BBQ tickets are $15 and the raffle calendar is $10 each. When you use Venmo please state what you are paying for and how many of each. We are excited to have a “food court” area in the field area by our barn stage. The snack shack, chicken BBQ, and Butch’s Country Store will be relocated along with our seating area so that as people enjoy their lunch they can listen to area entertainers performing on the stage. Our children’s entertainment is changing this year and we will be having local singers filling the air with music while you relax and enjoy the day. Singers and times will be announced on our Facebook page, NICC Children’s fair, as well as on Fair day. As always BUTCH’S continues to offer sausage and pepper subs, homemade jellies, local maple syrup and honey and locally grown corn. We are not offering produce, but will have a new addition of hand cut French fries. The sandwich shop is being incorporated into the Snack shack. It will continue to offer burgers and dogs, but will also have some premade sandwiches and fresh salads. The first Children's Fair was held in 1861 as a way for the children of New Ipswich, NH to support the men fighting the Civil War as well as other charities chosen by the children. They would make items that were auctioned, raffled or sold and the money was then used for the charities they chose.
The Fair is now used as an outreach ministry for New Ipswich Congregational Church to support youth programs throughout the Monadnock Region of Southern New Hampshire. Even though it is organized and chaired by members of NICC, the fair is truly a community event with 300 plus community members of New Ipswich donating their time, talents and treasures to make this event a success for the children of our area.