A Monadnock Summer Tradition – 94th First Church Fair in Jaffrey

Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to the 94th First Church Fair in Jaffrey on Wednesday, August 4 from 1 to 4. Lunch is served in the Parish Hall at noon, while people gather to wait for doors to open when the Meetinghouse clock strikes one. There are games for children, a great selection of books for readers and collectors, baked goods, and crafts. Bargains and treasures can be found among the many tables of antiques and collectables in the Meetinghouse. The church sanctuary becomes an art gallery while the gardening tent contains plants, pots, and produce. Small appliances that work– and a few large ones -- carry very reasonable price tags. A Silent Auction at

3 PM, rides in an antique car, the dunking tank, ice cream and hot dogs – the Fair has them all.

Organizing and setting up the Fair requires many, many volunteers from First Church and the community. They come back year after year to help create an event that all ages love and that benefits local organizations as well as the church. Among the groups aided by the

Fair’s proceeds are: the Jaffrey Town Emergency Fund, Monadnock Family Services, Shelter from the Storm, Home Healthcare, Hospice, & Community Services, the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention, AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region, Monadnock Worksource, Monadnock Community Early Learning Center, Jaffrey-Rindge Food Pantry, and afterschool programs for Jaffrey’s elementary and middle school students. The Fair also funds scholarships for Conant High School students.

Admission and parking are free. The First Church Fair is held in Jaffrey Center, 2 miles west of downtown Jaffrey on Route 124. Turn into Laban Ainsworth Way (across from Gilmore Pond Road) and park on the common in front of the Meetinghouse. For a schedule of events and updates on the Silent Auction, go to www.firstchurchinjaffrey.org.