The Antrim Community Board will host a combined Business and Community Fair on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Great Brook Middle School.

“We’re telling everyone, it’s going to be a cold day on Saturday, so come on in and warm up with us,” said organizer Helene Newbold. “We’ll have hot food, we’ll have games for the kids, and it’s a chance for people to learn what businesses and organizations are in town, to network and meet people.”

The event, which runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the school gym, is free and open to the public. The Antrim Grange will be selling food and beverages as a fundraiser for the ongoing Grange restoration project.

“We’re very grateful to Rick and Diane’s Pizza for donating food at a discount, which will enable the Grange to raise some money for their project,” Newbold said.

The Antrim Community Board hosted the first Antrim Business Fair last January, which attracted 120 visitors despite a snowstorm.

“People asked us, why would you want to do anything in January? But we had queried all our local businesses, and they all said January would be a great time because things are quieter for them and it would give them an opportunity to network and maybe connect with some clients for spring,” Newbold said. “There are a million events going on in spring and summer, and not a lot right now.”

The Great Brook Middle School Student Leadership Team will have indoor games and activities for children.

“Parents can walk around, find out what businesses are operating in town, find out what services and groups are out there, while the kids play,” Newbold said.

In fall 2025, Jenine Rubin, a board member of the Antrim Newcomers Club, approached Newbold about combining the Newcomers Club’s Community Fair with the Business Fair. The Newcomers Club had previously hosted community fairs to highlight Antrim’s many nonprofit and service organizations as well as town committees and departments.

“Newcomers Club had hosted the Community Fair a few times, and Jenine approached me and said, ‘Why don’t we combine the businesses and the organizations in one event? Then people can learn about all of them in the same place.’ We thought it was a great idea,” Newbold said.

The organizations combined their lists, and Newbold and Antrim Community Board volunteers began contacting every town business, nonprofit, club and committee serving Antrim. Many groups, including town committees and departments like Police and Fire, had a presence at both fairs.

“There’s a really nice mix this year. We have over 40 groups signed up,” Newbold said.

This year’s fair will also include Antrim’s churches.

“The churches do so much for the community that people might not be aware of. They are very important to Antrim, ” Newbold said.

Newbold said people are “always amazed” by the diversity of businesses that exist in Antrim.

“By coming to the fair, people might learn that the business or service they are looking for is right here in Antrim. It will give them a chance to maybe meet their neighbors and connect with services they are looking for,” Newbold said.

Part of the Antrim Community Board’s mission is to help maintain the database of Antrim businesses on the town website, which she said is a challenge.

“Things are always changing and we really try to stay on top of that, or who is running what organization and what businesses are current,” she said.

The board also creates and distributes “Welcome Bags” to new Antrim residents.

“I’ve delivered 18 bags to new residents since August, and I’ve been encouraging everyone to come to the fair and find out how much is going on in Antrim,” she said.

New organizations at this year’s fair include 100+ Women Who Care, the Hancock Women’s Club, Wreaths Across America, and the Antrim Cemetery Trustees. Some of the Antrim businesses which will be present include Outdoors with Larry, Iron Horse Audio and Video, the Silentwoods Collective, Nutz 4 Craftz, Treats 2 Run For, and Bluefeather Farm, Cutter Flooring, Tenney Farm and a table sponsored by Edmunds Ace Hardware.

For more information about the Antrim Community Board, visit antrimnh.org/antrim-community-board.