The group planning for Dover's 400th anniversary held a Family Fun Day on Saturday, its first public event on the countdown to the big day in 2023.

"We wanted to hold some events last year but unfortunately that didn't happen. We felt with the pandemic being outside at Tendercrop Farm it was a wonderful venue and an opportunity for people in Dover to get together and have just have a fun day," executive director Jeanette Poulin told Seacoast Current. "That was our mission on Saturday to create the awareness and for people to get out and be together and enjoy each other's company."

The mission was seemingly accomplished an estimated 1,300 people came to Tendercrop Farm at the Red Barn to enjoy the food trucks, games, a beer and wine garden, cornhole and corn mazes.

"It was a great event," Poulin said.

The volunteer group has started planning for the biggest celebration in 2023 with a parade and perhaps a boat parade and fireworks.  Leading up to the big celebration Dover 400 is hosting events to bring awareness to Dover's history.

Three historical presentations scheduled on its website starting with a look at downtown Dover in the early 20th century on Tuesday at 7 p.m. hosted by former legislator and lifelong Dover native Anthony McManus.

Other presentations are a look at Dover's service during World War II on Tuesday, Nov. 9 and "Voices from the Cemetery" on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

In 2022 the group plans to get into the cultural component with a festival still being planned, Poulin said.

"We're a committee that's joined together to celebrate the past, present and future of Dover,"

Dover 400 Family Fun Day

The Dover 400 organization held Family Fun Day, its first public and in person event, on October 9, 2021 at Tendercrop Farm at the Red Barn

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH

2021 Dover Apple Harvest Day

Pictures from the 2021 Dover Apple Harvest Day

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