THE CHELSEA COMMUNITY FAIR
A BRIDGE BETWEEN OUR ROOTS AND A FLOURISHING FUTURE
By Jenny Black
The Fair’s Roots Run Deep
The Chelsea Community Fair is one of the area’s most beloved events. It is an occasion that celebrates the community’s agricultural heritage, along with bringing the community together to have fun while raising funds for service projects that will benefit folks year-round. The fair is a place where you can enjoy elephant ears and funnel cakes, ferris wheels, and tractor pulls. Or you can attend a horse show and take your kids through the barns to look at the animals. With events that appeal to people of all ages and walks of life, the fair is a week that people look forward to all year long.
The history of the fair goes back many years, almost back to the time when the village was first formed. The first Chelsea Fair took place in 1872 on the farm of Dr. R.B. Gates. At that time it was called the Fair of Northwestern Farmers Club of Washtenaw County. Featured events included a racetrack for horses and exhibitions of produce, flowers, crafts, and livestock. The fair continued to take place most years after this, though the organization in charge changed several times before settling with the Chelsea Fair Board that runs it today.
By 1886, the Western Washtenaw & Eastern Jackson Agricultural Association held the fair, and in 1891, the organization was called the Chelsea Union Agricultural Society. Some of the highlights of these early years were horse races and a balloon ascension. By 1895, bicycle races and a baseball game between Chelsea and Dexter were added forms of entertainment.
In 1937, the Chelsea Community Fair was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea and the high school Future Farmers Club. It was held at the high school and was a one-day event. Exhibits included vegetables, crafts, poultry, livestock, rural education exhibits. The poultry and livestock were located in a tent outside the school. The Chelsea Community Fair has continued to occur on an annual basis except for the years during World War II and 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most fair events were canceled that year, though the livestock auction was held virtually.
These days, the Chelsea Community Fair has evolved into a week-long event that has become woven into the fabric of the community. Hosted at the Chelsea Fairgrounds, the fair takes place in mid to late August and is run by a group of 27 talented, hard working volunteers who make up the Chelsea Fair Board.
“Our fair is the largest community owned and operated fair in the State of Michigan. Whatever money we make at the fair, we put back into the fair,” said Rick Beeman, who has been a member of the Fair Board for over 20 years.
Visitors to the Chelsea Community Fair have the opportunity to enjoy carnival rides, games, traditional fair food, a horse show, animal judging, a livestock auction, exhibits in the hobby barn, a children’s parade, a fair parade, and much more.
During the evenings, you will also find exciting featured events at the Main Arena. If you are interested in old-fashioned down-to-earth entertainment, there are the tractor pulls, demolition derby events, and truck-pulling contests during fair week. These events draw many visitors to the fair and it can be hard to find a seat in the stands.
In addition to serving on the Fair Board, Rick Beeman has enjoyed participating in the demolition derby 40 times in the past 40-odd years, with his first demolition derby at age 15. One of the many advantages of the Chelsea Community Fair, he said, is that the entrance fee covers all the events, contests, and shows for that day.
“Where else can you go and just pay one entrance fee and not have to pay extra to see the events that evening? And, we like that people can bring their whole family,” Beeman said. “It’s a fun, family-oriented fair.”
A Thriving Connection to the Community
The impact of the Chelsea Community Fair has on the community lasts long after Fair Week is over. As one of the largest fairs in the area, the Chelsea Community Fair brings in many visitors to town, which also has a positive economic impact on the local businesses.
“The fair brings lots of people to the businesses and restaurants on the south side of Chelsea,” said Terris Ahrens, Executive Director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce. “This area doesn’t always get as much attention as the historic downtown, but once people go there, they find out it’s just as great. It’s also a chance for the community’s service clubs to raise funds for their local projects.”
For example, the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea runs a food trailer at the fair every year. People may not realize that when they are buying a bag of popcorn or a hot dog at the Kiwanis trailer, they are helping give back to their community.
“The Chelsea Fair is the main source of revenue for the Kiwanis Club and 100% of our revenue is donated back to the community,” said Jim Randolph, Secretary of the Board and past President of the Chelsea Kiwanis Club. “Plus, we serve the world’s best knockwurst!”
Some of the ways the Kiwanis club helps the community include funding for youth scholarships, Faith in Action, the Chelsea District Library Reading Program.
Another service club that raises funds during the Chelsea Community Fair is the Rotary Club of Chelsea. Their trailer, situated next to the grandstand, sells soft drinks, water, chips, candy, and ear plugs.
Kaine Diver, Public Relations Chair of the Rotary Club of Chelsea, is proud of the way the community members support each other through the fair and service clubs.
“The Rotary Club gives back all of the proceeds from the fair trailer through community service projects,” Diver said.
Embracing Our Agricultural Heritage
Not only does the fair offer exciting entertainment and fundraising opportunities for local service organizations, the Chelsea Community Fair has always had agriculture at its core.
“Old farming families started the first Chelsea fair and some of those same farming families are helping to keep it going,” Beeman said.
There are barns full of farm animals, from rabbits and poultry to goats, sheep, pigs, horses, and cattle, all raised by local youth from the Chelsea, Dexter, and Grass Lake areas.
The animal judging events and livestock auction help connect the community to the next generation of local farmers. Plus, the livestock auction not only supports young farmers, it also gives businesses and individuals a chance to purchase local, humanely-raised meat.
In addition to his work with the Rotary Club, Diver also works for a local business. His company takes pride in purchasing an animal at the fair every year.
“The fair is a great way to support young farmers and coming from a farming background, that’s important to me and to many people in this area,” Diver said.
Another set of exhibitions and judging is in the Hobby Barn. This area gives participants and visitors a chance to honor timeless traditional skills like baking, canning, quilting, gardening, floriculture, and the arts, just to name a few. Visitors have the chance to walk around and enjoy the displays and contestants are judged in each of their categories.
In an age when technology and video games are becoming more prevalent, attending a fair is a chance for kids to think about where food comes from and to get in touch with our rural traditions. Plus it allows people to gather together in a positive environment.
“It’s the familiar faces, the community coming together, that’s my favorite part of the fair,” Diver said.
The success of the Chelsea Community Fair year after year is a testament to the strong roots of this area’s past combined with a willingness to work together to help give the people a thriving future.
Whether you are interested in the carnival aspect of the fair, the agricultural attractions, the iconic fair food, or just being outdoors with friends and family, the Chelsea Community Fair has it all. And beneath the sparkle of the bright lights from the ferris wheel and the roar of the engines in the demolition derby, there lies a strong community with deep roots and a big heart.
Volunteer & Get Involved
The Chelsea Community Fair is made possible by dedicated volunteers. Find out more about volunteering for the fair by visiting their website at chelseafair.org.
Would You Like to Help Out through One of the Service Groups Mentioned in This Article?
The Kiwanis Club of Chelsea serves the community by helping local children thrive through various projects. Chartered in 1924, they meet weekly to discuss and plan their programs. To learn more about the Kiwanis Club, see their website at https://k01203.site.kiwanis.org/about/.
The Rotary Club of Chelsea aims to empower youth and help the community through local projects. They have been serving the community for over 25 years. To learn more about how you can visit one of their meetings, check out their website at rotarychelsea.org.
The Chelsea Area Historical Society has been working to preserve the Chelsea area’s rich history since 1974. If you would like to learn more or if you’re interested in volunteering, visit their website at chelseahistory.org.
The Washtenaw County 4-H program offers many opportunities for educational, fun, and interactive programming for a wide range of interests for families
and youth. To learn more about joining and to view a directory of the various clubs, visit their website at
www.canr.msu.edu/washtenaw/washtenaw_county_4_h/.
Off Season Venue Rental and Winter Storage at the Chelsea Fairgrounds
The Chelsea Fairgrounds has options for off season venue rental and sports barn rental. If you are looking for a spot to host a private event like a family reunion, or a public event like a craft & vendor show, the Fairgrounds offer lots of space and amenities like kitchen and bathroom facilities, while the sports barn can be rented by the hour for private events.
If you need a dry place to store your boat, camper, trailer, or other items for the winter, the Fairgrounds also offers winter storage. For the latest information on off season rentals and upcoming fair details, please visit the Chelsea Community Fair website at chelseafair.org and follow the Chelsea Community Fair on Facebook.
