What would summer be without the Hillsborough Fireman’s Fair?
We don’t know and we’re happy to say, we won’t find out anytime soon, thanks to the Manville/Hillsborough Rotary Club.
The fair, as much a summertime staple here as corn on the cob and fireworks (both of which can be enjoyed at the fair), was facing an end because of the pending construction of the Route 206 bypass.
The land behind Hillsborough Vol. Fire Co. No. 2, where the fair has been held for more than a decade, has been sold to the state for the bypass construction. Without the land, the fire company was forced into a change, and may have ended the fair once and for all had not the Rotary Club stepped up.
While riding the Ferris wheel without being able to look down on traffic on 206 will feel odd, we can all celebrate the continuation of the fair.
As one of the township’s signature events, the fair is more than a good time for locals it’s been a vital fundraising event for the fire companies, and one of the more exciting aspects of the Rotary’s announcement is the decision to increase opportunities for local nonprofits to share in fair revenues.
That should help the Rotarians draw a larger pool of people helping with the fair’s planning and organization, which will further add to the attractions offered.
Club members are certainly still getting organized in their plans, but it will exciting to see what they will be able to do for the town with the fair.
