News & Events
Annual Events
Current Chamber of Commerce Events
Annual Events
The Annual Village Fair and Sidewalk Sale -- The third Saturday in July, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Rain or Shine
Over
100 merchants, restaurants and
organizations create a
giant block party in the downtown business district. One of New Canaan’s most
anticipated annual events—families plan their vacations around this date!
Entertainment, Clowns, music and Bargains, bargains, bargains.
Al Fresco Dining! Dancing in the streets!
New Canaan’s Village Fair is Unique in Fairfield County, the
town of New Canaan is blessed with a cohesive business district, which is never
more evident than on the day of the 
annual Village Fair. Elm and Forest Streets
are closed to vehicular traffic and New Canaan becomes what is often described
as an "outdoor mall." Pedestrian traffic is not impeded by the
bisection Route 1, as is the case in Darien, Greenwich, Fairfield and Westport.
The crowds flow easily around corners and through crosswalks to take advantage
of bargains lining the sidewalks on Main and Park Streets and parts of South
Avenue and Cherry Streets. 100 boutiques, restaurants and establishments are
within an easy downtown stroll.
The quality of the merchandise offered by New Canaan’s
often one-of-kind shops is legendary, drawing in shoppers from afar. 
Inquiries
about the scheduled date start in January every year and many New Canaan
families as well as visitors plan vacations and family reunions to coincide with
the Village Fair.
By comparison, seemingly every town and strip mall has a "sidewalk sale," often synonymous with "cleaning out the basement." Very often the consumer is faced with racks and piles of merchandise, well picked over by earlier crowds. There is very little entertainment and shopping becomes an endurance test, if not outright drudgery.
An old-fashioned fair atmosphere accompanies New Canaan’s
summer sales:
music, clowns and balloons, al fresco dining and sidewalk treats,
all of which lend an air of long ago country fairs. It’s a fun outing for the
whole family, and unlike other towns’ sidewalk sales which last 2-4 days, New
Canaan’s Village Fair is a one-day event. This gives the event a unique
immediacy. Neighborliness abounds as New Canaan residents catching up on news
with friends, strolling the fair or manning the booths join out-of-town
shoppers.
Not Just a Retailer’s Day
Although Village Fair Day is one of the biggest days of the year for New Canaan’s retailers, non-profit organizations and service clubs take the opportunity for fund-raising and showcasing their group’s efforts. Raffles, drawings, free gifts and once a year sale items are often available. In addition, information about volunteer and membership opportunities is explained.
Call The Chamber Office For Details and Reservations
New Canaan Family Fourth --
July 4th weekend--to be announced 
Annual Halloween Parade -- Sunday, October 26, 2008 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Annual Holiday Lighting of Downtown Business District -- Friday evening after Thanksgiving.
Link Up With the Leaders Annual Golf Outing -- Is hosted by The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce and will be held at the Country Club of New Canaan in September 2008. It is held specifically to help raise money for New Canaan’s annual holiday activities.
Every year, New Canaan retailers and small businesses take great pride in turning the city into a magical winter wonderland with more than 8 thousand twinkling lights that adorn trees in the downtown district. The cost of New Canaan’s lighting extravaganza has been absorbed primarily by the individual retail merchants and business owners.
Current Chamber
of Commerce Events
TBA