The 94th annual Woodstock Library Fair returns this Saturday, July 26, from 10 am to 5 pm, bringing music, food, children’s activities, and a vibrant sense of community back to the “Forever Green” Library Lawn at the Woodstock Public Library.

More than just a fundraiser, the fair has become a cultural institution—rooted in local history and driven by generations of volunteers.

The first fair was held in 1931. “There was no public funding of the library then,” said Michael Hunt, who has served as Library Fair director for 15 years and is also president of the Friends of the Woodstock Library, a nonprofit that’s been raising money for the library for more than 50 years. Today, the Friends is a registered nonprofit whose only purpose is to support the Woodstock Public Library.

Now entering its final year at the current library site before the institution moves to a new green-designed building at 10 Dixon Avenue, this year’s fair theme—“Which Way the Wind Blows”—draws inspiration from one-time local Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” The theme, said Hunt, is a reflection on civic responsibility in uncertain times.

“In these perilous times with the rapid breakdown of civil society, we thought about what it means to be a member of a community, of this community,” Hunt said. “For us that means love over hate. Optimism over fear. Science over conspiracy theories. Learning over ignorance. Community over isolation. Democracy over fascism.”

The fair will feature live performances, a used book and clothing sale, food and drinks from local vendors, bounce houses, raffles, a children’s costume parade, and a maypole dance.

“The generosity of the restaurants donating food, and the generosity and the time, the sweat equity of all these volunteers, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers all day,” Hunt said.

This year’s honorees include Acacia and Jason Bowman of The Rock Academy, Dr. Know of the punk band Bad Brains, and longtime public servant Chris Collins.

Over the years, the fair has paid tribute to many influential locals. “We honored Neal Smoller & his crew that vaccinated thousands of us during the pandemic,” Hunt said. “We honored Jay Wenk, who fought in a war against fascism and spent the rest of his life fighting for the ideals of freedom and justice. We support civics and activism.”

The tradition has grown within Hunt’s own family. His daughter Devon, now 18, serves as assistant fair director, managing social media and in-office logistics. “We start talking in January for planning and work all year long,” she said.

On Thursday, Devon, her younger brother Kiernan, 11, and their friend Faye Jared, 10, were using walkie-talkies to coordinate, running to Bread Alone for sandwiches and helping get the lawn ready for Saturday’s festivities. “We expect thousands of people,” Devon said.

For Michael Hunt, the fair represents something larger.

“You know, this is what happens in a world village like this. The lifeblood of a community is its volunteers,” he said. “It’s not about one person. It’s about all of us caretaking for the community.”

He noted that each year Woodstockers donate books to be sold at the fair—and many of the same people buy them back in support of the library.

The Friends’ role has become even more vital this year, as the library faces a $230,000 funding shortfall to complete its new 12,000-square-foot building on Dixon Avenue. At a recent library board meeting, trustees announced plans to place a $250,000 bond proposition on the October ballot to help close the gap.

“Since the project started in 2022, we’ve raised $1.7 million,” said Library Director Ivy Gocker. “But ultimately we have to form a bond.”

For the last fiscal year, the Friends gave the library $126,614 according to Mary Kate Davidson, fiscal officer of the Woodstock Public Library District. “This was unusually high as we received a couple of large donations from people’s estates. More typically, we give the library maybe $20,000 through $25,000.” She added that the Friends are required to allocate at least 85% of their annual revenue to the library, with the remainder covering overhead like tents, food, and equipment for the fair. They’ve already helped fund the $38,000 cost of moving the collection and may reinstate a $5,000 annual contribution to support operations—part of a larger effort that includes major donor outreach, grant-writing, and the grassroots fundraising tradition the Library Fair has upheld since its founding.

And amid changes to the library’s physical space, the fair remains a reminder of continuity.

“I feel like I’m just a caretaker to this special thing that’s been around since 1931,” Hunt said.

Even as the town evolves, Hunt said, the library remains central. “You’ll come here on any given day or night, and people are out here using the Wi-Fi. The library’s DVD collection offers a vital service to residents who can’t afford streaming services.”

The Woodstock Library Fair is free and open to the public and runs from 10 am to 5pm on July 26 at the Woodstock Public Library District at 5 Library Lane. Rain or shine, the celebration continues.

Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.