Don’t miss out – the Concord Food Co-op will raise the big top tent once again and turn pavement into a mecca of local food, healthy living and community May 11. All are welcome to attend the free, sixth annual Spring into Healthy Living Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., listen to live rock music, sample delicious local foods and celebrate the warming spring weather. The event will take place rain or shine. Due to the enormous success of this event, South Main Street will be closed from Hills Avenue to Pleasant Street to accommodate the celebration.
“This has become an annual event for the community to look forward to. Thousands of people visit the fair. We anticipate as many as 4,000 attendees this year” said Paula Harris, the Co-op’s general manager. “We have an excellent selection of products from local farms and small businesses, and we want to give folks the opportunity to try these products and understand why buying local is the way to go.”
Groove your way through the tent while listening to live rock music from the Club Soda Band, back by popular demand.
Participants will enjoy the free samples of natural products. Sample great local foods as you make your way through the tent and learn about natural and New England-made foods, wellness, green living, and community opportunities. Local farmers and the owners of several New England companies will be on hand to talk about their businesses and answer your questions about local, organic and natural food. Free food and beverage samples include cakes, cookies, snack foods, hot dogs, chutney, bruschetta and dip, dried fruit, local burgers, bacon, protein powder, vitamins and supplements, yogurt, popcorn, energy bars, and cheese, to name just a few . . . including several options for vegans and people with food allergies.
Inside, the Co-op will offer wine, beer, and cider samples, and Hillside Apiaries will lead live bee demonstrations to show how honey is made.
The Co-op chefs will lead a healthy cooking demonstration using all-natural bamboo steamer trays.
Kids will have a ball at the farm-style petting zoo by the Traveling Barnyard where they can come face-to-face and finger-to-fur with goats and other livestock. Children can become real cowgirls and cowboys when they hitch a ride on naturally raised highland cattle from Miles Smith Farm. Less squeamish children can pet and hold snakes and reptiles with P&R Reptiles.
The Concord YMCA will be there with fun activities to keep kids moving, and the Co-op’s Creation Station tent will host all sorts of natural crafts, activities, and henna tattoos. Enjoy the ever-popular face painting by local artisan Linda Weiser of The Artists View.
Other highlights include the Co-op’s Wellness Educators, who will be on hand to provide information about holistic health; Green Concord, a growing group of local merchants that promotes green living; and the Co-op’s Community Partners, nonprofit community organizations that the store features each month.
The Spring into Healthy Living Fair is free and open to the public; however, a nonperishable food donation to the Concord Boys & Girls Club is recommended. These donations will be part of the Boys & Girls Club’s Keystone National Project, which focuses on supporting the homeless and providing families and communities that need assistance. For more information about the Boys & Girls Club project, visit concordkids.org.
Free parking is available across the street in the Capitol Commons parking garage. Access is on Storrs Street. The event is handicap accessible and will be held rain or shine. For directions and up-to-date details, visit concordfoodcoop.coop.
