DIXFIELD — Each year, the town of Dixfield will hold its annual Open Market Day. This year’s event will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 on Main Street with a “tip of the hat” to celebrating its 36th anniversary of this popular event.
Hot dogs and hamburgers, lobster rolls, French fries and many other food items join flea market vendors and crafters, three musical groups and children’s activities for this fun, community-oriented day.
Originally organized as an arts-and-crafts sale with a colorful parade over the July 4th holiday in 1977, the event has evolved to include many others types of vendors, a 5K road race and historical society displays. The first chairman was local artist Bob Grose who hosted for several years.
As interest in creating a successful day began to wane, Jo Bradeen stepped up in 1994 to revitalize the volunteers needed to make it a success. Due to a Main Street community development block grant in 1997-98, the market had to be cancelled due to construction. Many businesses suffered during those two summers, but the end result was a better looking and functioning Main Street.
Ralph and Norine Clarke chaired the event for approximately the next 13 years and supported our current chair Louise Richard when she offered to lead the group in 2012.
The Open Market Day has become Dixfield’s special way of celebrating the end of summer and of gathering friends and neighbors together to host its own “Maine” event. If you would like to participate and join as a vendor, visit www.dixfield.org to download a registration form and additional information or contact Chair Louise Richard at 207-562-7478.
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