The Bath Fair Grounds has a long history. The first Bath Fall Fair occurred on Labor Day 1944. It was a one-day event, organized by the Chamber of Commerce. Charles Wry was the first president of the local Chamber in 1943 and Ed Hayes was the secretary treasurer. Many people have very fond childhood memories of the Bath Fall Fair, which ran every Labour Day Monday until 2013. The Fair was a well-attended community event that included concession stands, amusement rides and games, a horse pull and an impressive fireworks display.
To bring back a sense of community, and to help put the Village of Bath back on the map, some citizens are working together to re-imagine Labour Day weekend festivities and the use of the fairgrounds during the Summer months. In 2015, the Carleton North Community Market was created at the traditional fairgrounds site in lower Bath. Running on Saturdays from June until September, this local market features fresh produce, local handcrafts, and food stalls. Another activity planned for New Brunswick Day, the first weekend in August, is the Bath, Bristol & Florenceville (BB&F) River Run, where canoes & kayaks are paddled down the Saint John River from Bath to Florenceville. Summer activities at the fairground will wind up on Labour Day weekend with the Western New Brunswick International Balloon Festival which begins on the Thursday before Labor Day with flights each morning and evening (weather permitting) and winding up on Labor Day Monday with the Trevors – Goodine Professional Lumberjack Competition, as well as final balloon flights on Monday evening and the very popular “candle glow” with all the balloons lit up at dusk.