Arden is a small, tightly knit community with a strong sense of community spirit. The 115th Arden Fair held on September 3, 2023 was a big success! Thanks to everyone who participated. Special thanks to the folks at the Hanby YMCA Outdoor Center for allowing us to use their facility for Fair parking.
The ‘arden’ is an ancient culturally defined area that in antiquity and into the Middle Ages encompassed most of Warwickshire and parts of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire in England. Its name is also used to refer to a specific type of local stone known as ‘arden sandstone’, which is distinctive for its light coloration due to the presence of a particular species of lime-producing algae.
A popular idiom, ‘as long as there is an arden, there will always be a Fair’, refers to the ongoing annual celebration of Arden’s unique character. The Fair provides an opportunity to experience the many talents, traditions and activities that make the arden such a special place.
The arden is a place of beauty and natural tranquility. It is surrounded by woodlands that abound with wildflowers, birds and animals. Residents preserve these natural treasures by participating in woods cleanup, ivy “pulls” and other activities. The woods are the foundation of the community and contribute to its close-knit character. Residents also take care of their homes and yards, ensuring that the arden is beautiful and well-maintained. Several of the community’s houses are built in the Arts and Crafts style, which arose as a reaction against industrialization and valued hand-crafted goods.