BERNARDSTON — An event that began as simply a flea market with about a half dozen vendors and has grown into a community staple that organizers describe as “a celebration of New England history” will return for its 50th year this Memorial Day weekend.
The Bernardston Gas Engine Show, Flea Market & Craft Fair will be held rain or shine at Pratt Field at 257 South St. The 10-acre property will feature 104 flea market and craft vendor sites, as well as food booths, tractors and the titular gas engines.
Though admission is free, proceeds benefit the United Church of Bernardston, and donations are encouraged. Church member Michelle Rooks, who handles the event’s social media and promotion, called the event “a celebration of New England history.”
“It’s literally old antique engines set up, running all day, and people look at how the pistons work,” Rooks said. “It’s a lot of manufacturing history.”
As a founding member of the event, Bernardston resident Russell Deane has been there for all 50 years. It started out as just a flea market with a half dozen vendors, before the gas engines came in during the “second or third year,” according to Deane.
Deane, at nearly 98 years old, recounted how the event has exploded in popularity within the last 20 years, and he credits Logistics Chair Bob Allen with this growth.
“It just keeps growing, growing, growing,” Deane said.
Allen, however, said that despite his title, everyone calls Deane the boss. “He’s the guy in charge,” Allen retorted.
Deane said his title, the “overseer of everything,” is a nice one, but what he mainly does is keep track of things that are happening around the event and help sell raffle tickets. This year, in addition to selling tickets, he’ll be helping the United Church of Bernardston with its tag sale, which he said has three different spots around the field.
Like Rooks, Allen said the Bernardston Gas Engine Show, Flea Market & Craft Fair is like stepping back in time, and that “there’s less and less of these events every year.” While a lot stays the same, the Friday night auction has been replaced with bingo under the big top.
“I’ll be honest, as we get older, the furniture started getting heavier, so we thought bingo might be the better option,” Allen said.
What keeps people coming back each year, Allen believes, is that it’s an inexpensive, enjoyable family event.
“I think especially now, with everything getting more expensive, it’s really nice to be able to take your whole family out for the day and not have to take out a loan,” Rooks said.
With more than 3 acres of exhibits, more than 100 flea market and craft vendors, the tractor parade and the children’s garden tractor pull, there’s something for everyone.
“There’s just always something going on,” Allen said.
With the food booths operated by the United Church of Bernardston, prices have stayed relatively the same, despite rising costs nationwide. On Saturday, the ham and bean supper will be served, with the ham being cooked, appropriately, by spit-roasting that is powered by a gas engine.
Sunday will feature a morning worship service, the raffle drawing and the second of two tractor parades, with the first taking place on Saturday afternoon. Food booths will be open for all three days, beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
Allen, Rooks and Deane agreed that they’ve seen familiar faces populate Pratt Field on Memorial Day weekend.
“It’s so many different things,” Deane said regarding why people come back year after year. “One person would tell you one thing and one would tell you another. A lot of people follow the [crafters], and their prices are much different than they are some other places.
“Everyone thinks you need to do something different,” Deane continued. “It’s been pretty good for 50 years. … It’s unreal.”
The event kicks off on Friday, May 22, at 11:30 a.m. and runs through Sunday, May 24. The full schedule is as follows:
Friday, May 22
- 11:30 a.m. — Food booths open, raffle tickets become available and vendors set up.
- 6 p.m. — Bingo under the big top.
Saturday, May 23
- 6 to 9:30 a.m. — Breakfast (food booths open all day).
- 8 a.m. — Gas Engine Show, Flea Market & Craft Fair opens.
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Children’s garden tractor pull.
- 2 p.m. — Tractor parade.
- 5 to 6 p.m. — Ham and bean supper.
Sunday, May 24
- 6 to 9:30 a.m. — Breakfast (food booths open all day).
- 8 a.m. — Worship service under the big top.
- 9 a.m. — Gas Engine Show, Flea Market & Craft Fair opens.
- 11 a.m. — Tractor parade.
- 1 p.m. — Raffle drawing.
For more information, visit unitedchurchofbernardston.org/gas-engine-show.
