FRYEBURG — When the Fryeburg Fair opens its gates Sunday for the 160th time, visitors will be greeted by more than 4,000 animals, dozens of craft and farming demonstrations, displays of vintage horse-drawn wagons and the largest midway in the Northeast.
New this year is a Garden Center in the farm museum complex, a redesigned Waterwheel with photo area by the main gate and a second mother’s lounge near the Gazebo entertainment area.
Add to that the largest steer and oxen show in the world, six days of harness racing, sheep dogs trials on opening day and a world-class Woodsmen’s Field Day. Along with hitches of draft horses, night shows with top class entertainers, daytime entertainment on five stages and it’s the makings of eight full days to close out Maine’s four-month fair season.
The new 30- by 40-foot Garden Center will feature educational booths focusing on flower, vegetable, organic, ornamental, herbal and raised bed gardens, among others. Prominent in the new building will be Johnny’s Selected Seeds, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service and the Western Maine Beekeepers. Gardeners seeking information will be able to have specific questions answered thanks to the wireless computer access and an on-site Master Gardener.
Returning for its second year is the popular “Final Charge” display of two moose with locked horns. The rare taxidermy display shows two moose depicted in their final battle. While the horns are original, the bodies were recreated by skilled taxidermist Mark Dufresne of Gray. Shown in a trailer in 2009, the moose are displayed inside the Natural Resources Center this year for better viewing across from the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Booth.
Pay One Price bracelets for mechanical rides are available from 2-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and the final Sunday for $20. Kiddie Land bracelets are $12 and good from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on opening Sunday and Monday.
Two dozen muster teams from fire departments across Maine and New Hampshire as well as New England are scheduled to complete Sunday for the honor of becoming Fryeburg Fair Fire Muster Champions. North Conway, N.H., is the defending team.
Additional information may be found at www.fryeburgfair.org.
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- Don Winslow, left, and Paul Lusky of the Saco Valley Woodsmen’s Day Committee scale pine logs Friday morning in advance of Monday’s 43rd annual Woodsmen’s Day at Fryeburg Fair. About 20 volunteers worked between rain showers to prepare for the event that will attract about 130 competitors from across the country and Canada.
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- Loader operator Russ Lanoi, center, assists Bob Hatch, right, as he lines up the bull’s-eye Friday at Fryeburg fairgrounds. The preparations are for ax throwing competition at woodsmen’s events Monday. At left, Sheridan Doyle works on the target’s height using a laser level.
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- Dan Evans, second from right, screws lag bolts into the back of the Woodsmen’s Day Axe Throw target during a rainy-day setup on Friday at Fryeburg fairgrounds.
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