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Town
Spotlight:
The
Sheer Joy of Country Fairs
By Columnist Lynn Nichols
August 22, 2001 - Updated list August 8, 2002
When
I was a young girl growing up in Littleton, MA (by
I-495), my brother and I used to marvel each summer at
the sights, sounds and smells of the Middlesex County
Fair. Farm animals, fun rides, cheesy carnival games,
cotton candy, the largest squash in the county…our 4-H
Fair had it all. I even won a blue ribbon once for the
daisy-patterned A-line skirt I made (although in truth,
I think my Mom put in the zipper!).
As
an adult, living in Fairfield County, Connecticut, those
sweet days spent tromping around a country fair were
just a hazy recollection to me. But when my husband and
I moved to the Pioneer Valley two years ago, we
rediscovered these gems of rural life. Over the past two
summers, we've been to the Heath Fair, the Sheep &
Woolcraft Festival in Cummington, the Franklin County
Fair and of course, the mother of all agricultural
fairs, the Big E.
And
I admit it — I love this one-of-a kind experience.
There's just nothing like petting masked sheep (in their
hoods in preparation for the day's judging), watching a
bunch of pigs race around a track toward an Oreo-laden
finish line, being pitched the latest kitchen appliances
or eating fried dough dripping with grease and powdered
sugar. Personally, though, it's the animal exhibits that
take me back to those wide-eyed little kid days. Just
looking at the amazing variety of roosters makes me
smile from ear to ear. And that's not to mention the
lop-eared rabbits, the goats, the cows, the horses, the
llamas, the emu…I could go on and on.
The other great thing about the fairs of the Pioneer
Valley is bumping into someone you know. At last year's
Franklin County Fair, we ran into Eve, who was
marvelling over the Tupperware display, much to the
dismay of her children ("Mommie, can we go to the
rides now?"). We've also happened across people
from church, clients, and other assorted acquaintances
during our fair visits.
A
country fair is a once-a-year reminder of the life we as
Americans used to live. I'm talking about the simpler
times when we raised animals, grew our own food, had
chicken BBQ with neighbors, and played games that didn't
involve AA batteries. When who we were was more important than how much money we made or what kind of car we
drove. When my husband and I lived in Fairfield County,
Connecticut, that simple time seemed very far away. But
in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, that simplicity
is a very real part of our lives. And that's a cause for
celebration. Care to join us in a corn dog and a fresh
lemonade?
The
thick of fair season is upon us right now. In fact,
there are agricultural fairs in the Pioneer Valley right
up through the end of September. Here's a (pretty
complete) list, courtesy of the MA Department of Food
and Agriculture:
Cummington
Fair,
Fairgrounds Rd., Cummington, August 22-25. Thursday
& Friday 4:00 PM -11 PM, Saturday & Sunday, 8:30
AM - 11:00 PM. 4 classes draft oxen, oxen parade, horse
pulling - 3,000lbs. 3300lbs. Over 3300lbs. Under &
over 1650 powder puff classes, under over 4750 three
horse hitch classes, 4X4 truck pull, antique
tractors/engines parade, antique car parade with Golden
Agers.
Ware Grange Fair, Belchertown Rd., Ware, August
23 & 24. Fri. 5:00 PM -9:00 PM. Saturday 2:00 PM -
9:00 PM. Free. Anyone in Massachusetts may enter and it
is not necessary to belong to the Grange. Entries may be
brought in Thursday evening, Aug 22nd, from 7:00 PM-9:00
PM or Friday morning 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. Categories are
vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, flowers, arrangements,
house plants.
Shelburne Grange Fair, Little Mohawk Rd.,
Shelburne, August 24. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Free.
Agricultural exhibits, children's games, musical
entertainment, educational exhibits, food concessions,
chicken BBQ, craft fair. Auction of produce & baked
goods.
Blandford Fair, August 30 - September 2, 8:00 AM
- 10:00 PM. Horse, oxen & pony pulls, horse show,
livestock shows, fiddle contest, stage shows, adult
& youth hall exhibits, 4-wheel drive truck pulls,
mini modified pulls, tractor pulls, antique engine show,
antique car show, midway attractions & rides.
Franklin County Fair, Wisdom Way, Greenfield.
September 5-8. Thursday, 3:00 PM-10:00 PM; Friday, 8:00
AM-10:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sunday, 8:00
AM-9:00 PM. Demolition derby, Beetlemania, Gifford &
Roy Magic, stage shows, agricultural displays,
agricultural education area the unique Roundhouse and
displays, baby barnyard, livestock competitions, Fiesta
Shows, Midway area & games, Fair Museum, craft area.
Williamsburg Grange Fair, 10 Main St.,
Williamsburg, September 7, 11:00am-7:00pm. Free.
Vegetable & handicraft displays, Auction 7:45pm.
Bake sale & tag sale all day. Supper 6:00pm.
Belchertown Fair, Town Common, Main St.,
Belchertown, September 27-29. Friday, 3:00 PM-10:00 PM;
Saturday 10:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.
Free. Large parade Saturday, 10:00 AM. Free activities,
children's tent all weekend. Free adult entertainment
tent, large exhibit hall, horse pull Sat. Ox draw Sun.
4-H working steers, antique tractor display Saturday.
Many craft demos throughout.
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