New Bedford Merchant Days offers weeklong celebration

New Bedford is a small community known for its quiet rural setting and close-knit feel, nestled among farmland and rolling countryside. However, during New Bedford Merchant Days May 11-16, the quiet countryside will take on a decidedly different beehive of activities that will bring the community together and entice people to venture to New Bedford to take advantage of shopping deals, along with plenty of other activities.

“It’s a fun family time with a lot to do,” said business member Albert Miller, owner of New Bedford Harness & Boots. “There’s a lot more to do and see in New Bedford than people may realize, and New Bedford Merchant Days is a unique community gathering where everyone here comes together to host plenty of merchant sales along with activities that offer plenty for people who come to visit us.”

The annual event will be a weeklong celebration surrounding Ascension Day, May 14, when businesses and activities will be closed in honor of that hallowed day. However, the rest of the week will be bustling with activity.

The event will feature weeklong sales at all participating New Bedford businesses, with garage and yard sales featured May 12-13.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, there will be a pony auction featuring close to 100 quality, broke ponies. On Friday, May 15, a bake sale benefitting a local family in need will offer dozens of mouthwatering reasons to pay a visit, while a local Amish school will serve up a breakfast fundraiser, lunch and dinner.

Friday evening also kicks off a volleyball tournament at 6 p.m., where folks are invited to watch athletes have at it on the volleyball courts. In addition, there will be a pickleball tournament, with concession stands located at both places, with barbecued chicken, cheeseburgers, fries and more available.

On Saturday, May 16, starting around 8:30 a.m., a pony parade will roll through town, where youngsters have a chance to grab their favorite pony and cart and be part of a unique parade.

“We usually have between 50 to 80 ponies and carts that they dress up and decorate a little bit, most of them driven by children,” Miller said. “They ride through town, and there’s candy for the kids and plenty of other fun things for the entire family.”

The parade is sponsored by Baltic State Bank.

Saturday will also feature a large consignment auction that will take place most of the day, and at 3 p.m., a raffle drawing will take place.

Two larger items will be drawn from the raffle, including a pony and a grill, while the second chance to win comes courtesy of the local business members.

“Shoppers who visit a store will receive a ticket, and they get another ticket for every $50 spent from all the businesses,” Miller said.

The drawing will be for prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250.

All the merchants will also host their own sales and will give away their own prizes, making it a day of giveaways for visitors and customers.

The New Bedford community was established in the early 1800s and grew modestly as a local hub for agriculture and small trade. While it never developed into a large town, it has maintained its historical character over the years. Like many rural Ohio communities, New Bedford doesn’t have a large commercial center, but what it lacks in quantity of shopping opportunities it makes up for in quality.

One notable historical detail is that New Bedford once had its own post office, which opened in 1837 and operated for more than a century, serving as an important community connection point for residents.

Today, 19 businesses will provide shopping opportunities for those who venture into New Bedford the week of May 11-16.