Cheshire Fair

The Cheshire Fair Association is a non-profit (501(c)3) organization supported by our 300+ non-dividend paying stockholders and many volunteers. The fairgrounds consist of 74 acres of land, several building, animal barns and an arena building. A Board of Directors governs the Association. The Board consists of the officers, 18 directors & 3 associate directors. Each director is elected to a three-year term, with six positions expiring each year. The stockholders vote upon the officers and directors each year at the Annual Meeting, usually held in October. All Officers, Directors, Associate Directors and Fair Superintendents are strictly volunteer and receive no pay. The CFA was organized in 1938 and has been in continuous existence since. Gilman C. Gunn of Keene served as the first president.

In 1974, the Board of Directors voted to sell debenture bonds to raise money to build an Ice Arena. The drive was successful and the building was built later that year. The need then arose for someone to manage the building and grounds on a full-time basis, and Robert A. Bennett of Keene was hired in 1975. With a Manager in place, the Cheshire Fair became a year round enterprise.

The Cheshire Fair ice season begins in mid October, when the compressors are turned on and the ice is made. Several figure skating and hockey programs use the ice on a regular basis, including Cheshire Figure Skaters and various Men's Leagues and Keene Youth Hockey. The Ice Arena is also home to Keene High School and Monadnock High School. During the season, groups such as schools, clubs and parties also rent ice time. We also offer public skating times. Since most skating is done after normal working hours, our days are spent scraping, edging and resurfacing the ice with the Zamboni to maintain the high ice quality our skaters deserve. The Pro Shop carries a line of hockey equipment and does blade sharpening on site. Another of our activities is the operation of the Cheshire Fair Snack Bar based in the Arena building. The snack bar is open during most of our off-season activities and all proceeds go directly to the benefit of the fair.

The ice season ends in late March and we immediately begin removing the ice and preparing the arena and grounds for our off-season rentals. For the next six months, the grounds accommodate numerous activities for which the land and buildings are suited.

Throughout the season, the staff is hard at work handling all of the details associated with presenting a six-day fair as well as maintaining the day-to-day operations.

During the Fair, the buildings on the north end of the fairgrounds house commercial booths and exhibits, such as needlework, crafts, canning, and vegetables along with Cheshire Furniture. But for the rest of the year, they are the home of the North Ends Merchants, a small complex of specialty shops: Fairgrounds Antiques and Kid's Change. These businesses offer a wide range of gifts, furniture, antiques and collectibles. The next time you pass by the fairgrounds, please stop in and say hello to the North End Merchants.

Income to fund the Cheshire Fair Association operations derives primarily from the annual Cheshire Fair, but also from rentals of the buildings and grounds, and the operation of the arena ice programs. So you see that the Cheshire Fair Association is more than a six-day event. We hope that you enjoy the Fair and return in future years, but we also hope that you come visit us other times of the year.