Celebrate Granby Offers 2 Days Full of Fun for the Whole Family

Celebrate Granby begins with an opening evening of carnival rides, food vendors and fun today at 5:30 p.m. The event broadens its scope starting Saturday at 11 a.m., with more than 60 local and area businesses and organization providing informational and promotional booths, a craft tent, a kids’ tent, food, the carnival and more.

If you’ve been to Salmon Brook Park on Wednesday or Thursday, you’ve seen the full-scale carnival setting up. Rides including a giant slide, a Ferris wheel, bounce house, elevated swings and many others that will provide thrill seekers as well as those looking for a gentler ride with plenty of options, along with classic midway games.

Rebecca Taylor, Granby Chamber of Commerce administrator and one of the event’s key organizers, said the carnival is based in the area and performs high-quality background checks on all of its employees.

This year’s event is the first time Celebrate Granby, organized by the Granby Chamber of Commerce, has happened in the fall. The chamber saw the success of Granby’s 225th anniversary celebrations, organized by the town in 2011, and decided to build up their own event.

“We had the fuel we needed to take it to the next level,” Taylor said. “This year we’re going all out.”

The kid’s tent, featuring myriad activities for children and families from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and the craft tent, featuring local artisans who don’t have storefronts, has organizers especially pleased with plans for the second day of the fair. Taylor said the chamber is “really happy” about the two attractions. The kid’s tent will truly be full of activities Saturday. Check out a full schedule at the end of this article.

Additionally, about eight local restaurants are providing food at the event, more than ever before. Between all the attractions, there is fun for the whole family.

“The food alone the parents will love,” Taylor said. “There’s something for every age to enjoy.”

A larger-than-expected turnout at the town’s anniversary celebration in 2011 saw food vendors run out of their wares, a complication Taylor said will be avoided this year.

“They’re going to be prepared this time,” she said.

The event proceeds are directed to the chamber’s scholarship fund, which provides a graduating Granby Memorial High School student with a four year, $1,000 per year scholarship.

“That’s why the event is so great,” Taylor said of the charitable aspect of Celebrate Granby.

First Selectman John Adams is excited for the event. He encouraged attendance and mentioned the variety of vendors and activities at the Granby Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday.

“Please attend and have a wonderful time,” Adams said.

Town Manager Bill Smith is happy that so many local businesses will have a chance to interact with visitors to Celebrate Granby.

“It’s a great thing for the business community,” he said.

Taylor is excited too and is looking forward to a successful celebration.

“It will be a really nice day and night,” she said.

Celebrate Granby begins at Salmon Brook Park from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. today with the carnival and food vendors. The business and organization booths, craft tent and classic car show run Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The kid’s tent runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The carnival and food vendors return for a full 10 hours, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday.

Admission is free, but bring money for food and for carnival tickets – tickets cost $1 each, volume discounts for 22 tickets ($20) and 40 tickets ($35) are available.

For even more information, including a list of sponsors, simply visit the Celebrate Granby website.

Full Kid’s Tent activity list

Apple Tree Learning Center, Granby Dental, Granby Chamber of Commerce, Debois Family, Kindercare, Patchwork Schoolhouse and Studio 17 sponsor the Children’s Tent.

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.      

Hair Fun - Hair Accessories by Studio 17

11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Magic Show - Magic Man Jeff sponsored by DSI Marketing

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Face painting sponsored by Granby Chamber of Commerce, Free

11:30 a.m. - Noon 

Storytelling with Matt and Steve, Free Lunch Comics

Noon - 12:30 p.m.      

Magic Show - Magic Man Jeff sponsored by DSI Marketing

12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.                          

Acrofitness - sponsored by Apple Tree Children’s Center

1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.                           

Dance Performances - New England Dance and Gymnastics Center

1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.            

Martial Arts Demonstrations - Villari’s Martial Arts

2  p.m. - 4 p.m.

Pony Rides, Kristen Strain

2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Acrofitness - Sponsored by Apple Tree Children’s Center

2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Storybook Reading By Granby Education Foundation

3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.            

Storytelling with Matt & Steve, Free Lunch Comics

3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.            

StoryBook Reading By Granby Education Foundation

4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.            

Children’s Yoga with Amanda sponsored by Sustainable Health and Wellness

4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.            

Martial Arts Demonstrations - Villari’s Martial Arts

Local and area businesses at Celebrate Granby

Ad Embroidery and Graphic Promotions

Back in Touch

Barrett Builders

Beacon Mechanical

Cambridge House Brew Pub

Center Spirit Shop

Chiropractic Care of Granby

Christopher Bryant Company

Dr. Energy Saver

Eastern Rehab Network-Hartford Hospital

Family Hardware

Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association

First Congregational Church of Granby

Frank A. Schoenrock, CPA and Investment Advisor Representative

Granby Pharmacy

Geisslers’

Go Transformation Station/Anew Massage and Wellness

Granby Chamber of Commerce

Granby Community Fund

Granby Dental (Dr. Kirshbaum)

Granby Department of Public Works

Granby High School Football Supporters

Granby Horse Council

Hartford Courant

Hayes, Huling and Carmon Funeral Home

Horses and Hounds

Kane's Market

Katering by Karen

Lite-N-Up

Mary Kay Cosmetics

MeadowBrook of Granby

New Beginnings Massage and Holistic Care

New England Dance and Gymnastics Center

Northwest Community Bank

Old Well Tavern

The Granbys Patch and Free Lunch Comics

People's United Bank

Peppermill Country Deli and Bakery

Pilgrim Covenant Church

REL Distributors

Salmon Brook Historical Society

Salmon Brook Watershed Association

Sharon's Cookie Jar and Deli

Simsbury Bank

Small Town Septic

State Line Oil

State line Propane

Stitches By Me

Sustainable Health and Wellness

Sweet Wind Farm

The Doctors Treatment Center

The Granby Drummer

Tina's Ice Cream

Tutor Doctor/Better Than A Bistro

U.N.I.C.O.

Villari's Martial Arts

Walker Kitchen

Waste Not Want Not Kitchen

Windsor Federal Savings

Windsor Locks Federal Credit Union

RJS Photography

Granby Bible Study

Platinum Studio

Carillo Insurance

William Raveis