To call it a health fair might be something of an understatement.

After its two annual road races on Saturday, May 17, the Rotary Club held an event in the Bedford High School gymnasium that was part health education, part entertainment.

“We decided to try it because we have a lot of people here from the two road races,” said Don Rainone, president of the Bedford Rotary Club.

As runners, spectators and other residents strolled past booths of chiropractors, health care centers and alternative food vendors, they were treated to an Irish step-dance performance, a sports demonstration by the YMCA, and music wafting in from the outside entrance.

“We’re trying to get entertainment all day,” Rainone said. “We try to make it very busy.” Officially, this was a festival to raise awareness of health in the most possible, broadest sense of the word. In additional to several local health care providers, from the Elliot Wellness Center to Bedford Body Care, there were also several church groups, at least one bank, the Granite State Amateur Radio Association and Boy Scouts.

There was also plenty of food for everybody. Outside, the Clam King, Nutfield Ale and Steakhouse, and Yiannis Pizza were among the restaurants that maintained booths.

Inside, the food was more exotic and overtly healthy. Employees of the Manchester Chiropractic and Sports Injuries offered frozen fruit smoothies made of one scoop of Nano- Greens powder, one scoop of UltraMeal and frozen fruit blended together in 8 ounces of water.

One aisle over another vendor was giving out free samples of Tru Chocolate, a health brand, which, true to its name, has plenty of real chocolate in it. What it does not have is sugar.

Instead, it is sweetened with natural herbs, which kill germs that cause colds and the flu and help regulate blood sugar levels. Plus, the herbs keep the taste of chocolate in your mouth, giving a glass of water afterward a minty chocolate flavor.

More than 50 vendors, civic groups, and other organizations participated in the health festival, according to organizers.