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Fryeburg was the first town that was established in Oxford County, Maine, and it was one of the most important agricultural centers in the state. Since 1851, the town has been celebrating its rich agricultural heritage through the famous Fryeburg Fair, an 8-day fair that draws more than 300,000 visitors every year. The fair is considered the largest agricultural fair in Maine, and it is held from October 3 to 10 at the Saco River Valley. It features lots of exciting exhibits, competitions and activities that are aimed at promoting public interest in American agriculture.
Fryeburg Fair Exhibitions
The main highlight of the Fryeburg Fair is the exhibitions. These exhibitions provide a rare opportunity for people to learn about the history and culture of farming in the region. There are 7 different exhibition areas altogether, each of which is dedicated to a certain aspect of agriculture. They include the Agricultural Center, Craft Center, Fiber Center, Natural Resource Center, History Hall, Farm Museum and Antique Wagons. In these exhibition areas, visitors can see demonstrations of different farming and gardening techniques, displays of agricultural tools and machinery, the creation of crafts, yarn spinning demonstrations and others. Competitions are also held in some of the exhibition areas, and these include cooking, craft-making and exhibit design contests.
Woodmen's Day and Races
The Woodmen's Day is another popular event among visitors to the Fryeburg Fair. It's a competition that features some of the finest woodcutters and log-rollers in the country. Participants of the event will take part in a variety of contests, such Tree Felling, Master's Bucksaw, Master's Underhand Chop, Crosscut, Log Roll, Master's Axe Throw and others. In addition to the Woodmen's competition, horse racing events will also be held during the fair. Many fine horses from New England will take part in this 5-day competition, and the winners will be awarded cash prizes ranging from $2,200 to $12,000.
Midway and Entertainment
After you have viewed the exhibitions and competitions at the Fryeburg Fair, you should have some fun at the Midway before you head back to your Fryeburg Bed and Breakfast. The Midway is a section of the fair that offers excellent shopping and amusement. You will find numerous shops selling a wide selection of merchandise as well as games and rides. The amusement center is in full swing at night, and it provides lots of fun for both adults and children.
Live entertainment will be available every day throughout the duration of the fair. Some of the most talented performers from various parts of Maine will take the stage to perform concerts, magic shows, puppet shows and other live acts. Music lovers will get the chance to see performances by famous musicians such as Jose Duddy, Danny Breau, the Fryeburg Fair Boys and the Blue Hill Brass Quintet.
Visitor Information
The Fryeburg Fair opens at 7:00 am everyday, but the buildings will start operating at 9:00 am. Night shows commence at 8:00 pm from October 5 to 10. Adults are required to pay an admission fee of $10.00, while children under the age of 12 can enter for free. If you need directions to get to the fair from your Fryeburg Inn, you can check out the fair's official website at www.fryeburgfair.com.