Around Town

Podcast: ‘May Fair’ Returns in 2022

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to David Shea, who serves as co-chair of May Fair (see video embedded below), along with “Holy Smoker” George Wright. After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, the hugely popular May Fair is back on—scheduled for Friday, May 6th (4 to 9 p.m.) and Saturday May 7th (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). We talk to David about what May Fair’s all about, including the organizations that benefit from it, what goes into organizing May Fair, what’s on offer this year and also, ways that organizers are introducing new features for New Canaan’s growing community of young families. 

We also note here that nearly 400 volunteers are needed to put on the May Fair and there are slots open—those who are interested can call the St. Mark’s church office 203-966-4515 or email info@stmarksnewcanaan.org. In addition, donations for the May Fair tag sale are welcome, they’re taking drop-offs at the church house of toys, art work, jewelry and find goods, and people may call in for pickups of furniture and housewares.

Around Town

May Fair 2021 Canceled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

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May Fair has been canceled this year due to the pandemic, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church officials said. Though the town has made “outstanding progress” on vaccinating residents and the state is permitting fairs to operate at 50% capacity, “we carefully discerned that it is still too early to attempt such a large, multi-faceted gathering,” according to a letter published by St. Mark’s Senior Warden Stan Twardy, Junior Warden Mark Thorsheim and event Chairman George Wright. “We believe that the joyful spirit of May Fair is rooted in the joyful Spirit of God,” the letter said.

Around Town

‘People Have a Great Time’: May Fair Set for Friday Night, All-Day Saturday

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New Canaanites this weekend will descend on St. Mark’s grounds for one of the town’s most beloved annual traditions. May Fair organizers say the cherished rain-or-shine event is in its 70th year and that they’re keeping their fingers crossed for good weather for both Friday Night Lights, which runs 5 to 10 p.m., and the all-day fair that opens 9 a.m. Saturday. “It’s a tradition and it kind of marks people’s springtime—‘It’s Mother’s Day weekend—time for May Fair,’ ” Co-Chair Kit Devereaux told NewCanaanite.com. “I think people have a great time.”

A fundraiser for St.

Around Town

PHOTOS: May Fair 2017

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Friday Night Lights proved an ideal time to attend New Canaan’s annual May Fair due to an early closure caused by rainy weather on Saturday. Children and adults of all ages gathered at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church to go on rides and eat a variety of the fair’s classic foods ranging from hot dogs and pizza to cotton candy and ice cream. Kit Devereaux, one of May Fair’s organizers, said Saturday’s rain had a positive effect on the fair insofar as it brought crowds in earlier. “Friday Night Lights, in its third year, was the most successful we’ve ever had,” she told NewCanaanite.com.

Around Town

PHOTOS: May Fair 2016

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Scores of New Canaanites and area residents arrived at the (pesticide-free) grounds of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Saturday for the annual May Fair. Under a gray sky and scattered light rain, children and families smiled and screamed on rides, feasted on barbecue from the Holy Smokers, as well as cotton candy, strawberry shortcake, pizza from Joe’s Pizza and ice cream from Baskin Robbins, shopped at the hugely popular White Elephant tag sale and enjoyed live music from School of Rock New Canaan musicians. For the second straight year, the fair featured a “Friday Night Lights” preview prior to the traditional fair, with rides and food.