July 17, 2025
A Big Affair
The Bethlehem Fair Celebrates 100 Years
By Wendy Carlson
For Katie LeClerc, the fair is in her blood. Her mother, Eileen LeClerc, is the current president; her aunt, Elaine Brodeur, was president for 20 years; Katie is the current secretary. She was one month old when her mother first took her to the fair, and she has gone every year for as far back as she can remember.
LeClerc is among the legion of volunteers who will help get this year’s Bethlehem Fair up and running. It’s a mammoth undertaking. Between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors are expected to visit the fairgrounds between Sept. 5 and 7.
On tap are food and merchandise vendors, carnival rides, and several local bands. As always, the main draw are the fair’s robust agricultural programs, featuring events such as horse and oxen pulls.
The Bethlehem Fair is also touted for its array of exhibits, including canning, baked goods, produce, needlework, and crafts and hobbies. Ticket sale proceeds support the fair and the Fair Foundation, which, since 1995, has given more than $500,000 in scholarships to high school students.
“It’s a lot of work,” says LeClerc. But she recalls the pride she felt on one fair day when her aunt took her on the Ferris wheel ride and asked the operator to pause it at the top so they could get a bird’s-eye view “It was so rewarding,” she says.
