This weekend marks the town-wide homecoming celebration in Fairhaven. On Saturday, June 28, residents enjoyed the annual Homecoming Fair, held in the streets around the Unitarian Memorial Church. Local businesses, civic groups, and public services lined up and down the road to meet with the public and celebrate the return of friends, family and
Mattapoisett and Fairhaven share many historical bonds. Students from both towns attended Fairhaven High School together until Old Rochester Regional High School was built in 1961.
“I come every year. It’s a wonderful craft show. You see people you haven’t seen in a while,” said Fairhaven resident Denise Hunt.
She was joined by Lynn Novinger, who had never attended the fair before. “I like being out, listening to the music, watching the people. I really like the woodworking displays,” she said.
Crafts and woodworking were only the beginning. Over 160 vendors signed up to participate this year, offering all sorts of goods from jewelry, baby clothes, ceramics, body products, and wine chimes, which are exactly what you are imagining them to be.
The Homecoming Fair is a long-standing tradition for the town, dating back about 140 years. It has been organized by the Fairhaven Improvement Association since the 1960s. “It’s a weekend for everyone to come home,” said Angela Dawicki, co-organizer of the fair.
“It’s a great family atmosphere, it’s very safe, very clean. And this part of town is so Norman Rockwellish,” she said.
The fair is so extensive, that the 30-member FIA has enlisted the help of local students, who volunteer to help venders unload their vehicles, set up their booths, and direct parking.
“This year, we have almost two dozen volunteers. We’ve run the program for three years and they make things so much quicker and easier,” said Dawicki.
Fairhaven continues its bicentennial celebration on Sunday, July 1, with a firemen’s parade followed by a muster at Livesey Park. They will also be holding a classic car cruise on Wednesday,July 4, at Fort Phoenix.
By Eric Tripoli
