The Concord Kiwanis Club Gearing Up For Annual Spring Fair

How many people in Concord remember going to the Kiwanis Trade Fair over 50 years ago when it was first held inside the Green Street Community Center?

Okay, so how many remember going to the fair when it moved to the Concord Airport? This is when I remember it. I was probably 5-years-old, but I remember riding on a small train sitting inside one of the open cars. I remember seeing the ferris wheel,  merry-go-round, and several other carnival rides. These were located on the front lawn of the Concord Airport.  

My parents took me and my sister who was in a carriage around back to the airport runways where there were several large green tents. Inside the green tents, many businesses and organizations had set up displays and spoke to people.

Several years later the fair moved to the NH Highway Hotel, Fort Eddy Road. The rides were set up outside on the grass area towards the end of the hotel. The exhibits were located inside the State Ballroom of the Hotel. There were many exhibiters from Concord Lumber, Mark E. Ltd., Sprague Electric, Beede Electric, Jackman & Lang Insurance Company, Tenney Fuels, and more. You could hear organ music being played possibly by Darrell's Music Hall.  

Another event was the Miss Kiwanis Fair Queen Contest, featuring contestants from Concord High, Bishop Brady High, Merrimack Valley High, Pembroke Academy, Hopkinton High, and Pittsfield High Schools. The contestants had to do several requirements with the new Queen being crowned on Saturday.   

The Concord Kiwanis Parade which opened the fair on Thursday evening marching through downtown Concord with the mobil units ending at the fair site. This was the first parade of the season until expenses for the police coverage forced them  to curtail this event. 

The fair moved again from the NH Highway Hotel to the Everett Arena in the late 60's with the exhibits inside the arena and rides, fair food, and games outside.  The moved to be very successful for many years. The carnival rides and games were operated by Granite State Shows, located on Loudon Road where the Storage Station sits and also where the small business strip mall is located. Marcs Amusements took over from Granite State Shows for many years. Miller Amusements from Webster supplies the carnival rides for the fair this year.  

So  this year the fair begins Thursday, May 16, and continues thru Sunday, May 19. The rides continue outside while inside the arena, no exhibitors like in years past. Many exhibitors now take part in a Home Show that is held in late March. The Kiwanis have tried  many ideas but nothing became successful. For the second year the ladies roller derby will feature games on saturday. There are special family times for rides so be sure to watch the scheduled times. There will be over 20 amusement rides for people of all ages to enjoy. You can munch on all kinds of fair food from french fries, bloomin onions, sausage bombs, fried dough, and ice cream.  

This is the Kiwanis's biggest fundraiser with all proceeds going back into the community. The club annually gives a large donation to the NHTI's paramedic program, Camp Spaulding of Young and Child Family Services, Holiday Food Basket Program, Scholarships to high school seniors, Concord Christmas Parade, and more! The best project is the Kiwanis Waterfront Park located behind the Everett Arena. So many people take advantage of the picnic tables, walking path, boat launch, and a place to relax.  

The Kiwanis is in need of members and volunteers to help at the fair. The fair hours are Thursday 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Workers are needed for parking cars, selling tickets, and crosswalks assistants. Please only cross Loudon Road where the police or traffic signals are. Do not attempt to be funny and run across the road in and around traffic. Let's make it a safe and fun weekend.   

Don't forget the annual Antique & Classic Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the NHTI campus. This has become a MUST SEE event. You will vehicles of all kinds from the earliest to today's vehicle. That's another story! See you at the Kiwanis Fair!