11 Days until the Yankee Fair and Barn Sale

In 11 days, the Brookfield Congregational Church celebrates Brookfields' 225th Birthday with its 46th Annual Yankee Fair and Barn Sale.  As a member of the church, I can tell you that we plan and prepare for 365 days.  It’s a bit of a running joke. Every year, on the Sunday following the fair, the Fair Chair stands up and says “Only 365 until the fair.” At this point in the year the countdown is on!  We have been in serious prep mode since August. Almost every Saturday there is a crew in barn taking in donations, and almost every other day there is a crew sorting through what has been brought in. The barn is filled with “gently used treasures”, everything from antiques, household items, glassware, furniture, holiday decorations, bikes, garden tools and more. On fair day, the barn opens early (8 a.m.) for those people looking for a one-of-kind item. 

Fair day is full of excitement. It is a big day.  The community comes to check out the wares. Aside from the barn, you can find booths filled with handmade quilts, books, crafts, knitted items, baked goods, plants, seasonal décor, Vermont cheese, and 2ndhand garments.  Brookfield-famous entertainer, Vanilla Swirl, makes balloon figures throughout the day and we will have carnival games for kids of all ages to enjoy. You can browse and bid on silent auction items while listening to live music and enjoying food from the grill or the Coffee Shop. Or treat yourself to a quieter lunch with table service and pumpkin chiffon pie at our White Steeple Inn.

Best of all, at least half of all proceeds go to the Church's outreach programs.  This year we are celebrating the 225th anniversary of Brookfield’s founding. We thought it would be interesting to find a way to benefit the various towns that created Brookfield. As such, we are allocating the mission portion of the 2013 Yankee Fair proceeds to food programs in the towns from which Brookfield was created: Brookfield Social Services food pantry, New Milford’s Loaves and Fishes, Danbury’s Dorothy Day Hospitality House and Newtown Social Services food pantry.

So, come visit the fair! Not only will you find some great treasures, you will be helping others too.

The church's annual Yankee Fair and Barn Sale is Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the barn opening at 8 a.m. for some great bargains.  Admission and parking for the Yankee Fair are free. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  – Matthew 6:21