In 1906, the Fair Haven Fire Company started holding fairs during the first week of August at a small tract on River Road that is now the site of the municipal building.
More than 100 years later, the fair has become the largest firemen’s fair in the state and is set to return Aug. 28 to Sept. 5 to help mark the unofficial end of summer.
“People always think that we chose this week because it is the last week before children go back to school, but what actually happened was that when the fair started up again after the world wars, the founding members went through weather records and found that this was the week which typically had the best weather and the least amount of rain,” Andrew Schrank, fair co-chairman, said. “In the 35 years that I have been here there hasn’t been one night that we could not open the fair because it was raining.”
The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair will be held at the firehouse grounds at 645 River Road on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 to 11 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The fair is closed Sunday, Aug. 30.
According to Schrank, the firemen’s fair serves as the fire company’s main fundraising event, with all proceeds aimed at helping support the company in its mission to protect the lives and property of community members.
Schrank said proceeds from the fair vary year to year, but enough is raised to keep the company operating for the entire year.
“A lot of time and energy is put into this fair, we begin setting up the first week of August, and it’s amazing to see everyone come out,” he said.
He said the fair is probably one of the best-attended events in the state, with anywhere between 5,000-10,000 people visiting the fair each night.
“We have people of all ages that come to the fair,” Schrank said. “We have many people from Monmouth County, but people also come from throughout the state and as far away as New York City, and I think that is because it is just a nice place where families can come, have fun and not worry,” Schrank said.
With games, rides, prizes and more, the eight-night event has something for everyone to enjoy.
“We have 13 rides, more than 30 booths and other activities, a nine-hole miniaturegolf course; we offer a fire truck ride throughout town for the children … there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy,” Schrank said.
He said all the rides, booths and other events are staffed by the more than 150 volunteers — made up of fire company personnel and community members — who help out each night to make the event a success.
“We are proud of the fact that our fair is recognized as a family fair and our mem- bers, residents and friends who volunteer, serve with great pride in making this event a tremendous success each year,” Schrank said.
According to Schrank, food is one of the main attractions at the fair.
“We have a sit-down restaurant that seats more than 150 people which features seafood specialties and an ‘out-back’ kitchen that serves things like hamburgers, hotdogs, French fries and popcorn,” he said.
The biggest thing that Schrank said brings in the crowd: the games of chance and the “Super 50/50” drawn on the last night of the fair.
“I think last year the prize was $18,000,” he said. “People like taking part in it.”