Maine Agricultural Fair Season begins next week, July 3–6, with the Houlton Agricultural Fair. For four days, the family fun event will feature over 25 games for the kids, livestock shows, 4H shows, four horse shows, a demolition derby, truck pulls, mud runs and antique tractor pulls. The Houlton Agricultural Fair is the season’s first of 24 fairs that take place over the summer and fall, concluding in October with Maine’s largest agricultural fair, the Fryeburg Fair.

“Maine agricultural fairs showcase our states agricultural interests and the communities they are located in,” said Gov. Paul R. LePage. “The Houlton Agricultural Fair and other Maine fairs held later this summer and fall, help highlight the continued growth of Maine agriculture and its contributions to our natural resource economy.” 

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb highlighted the continued growth of Maine agriculture demonstrated by USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture. “Maine agriculture is growing big and small, with more farmers and more farms in Maine since the last agricultural census was conducted,” said Whitcomb. “The market value of Maine’s agricultural products increased 24 percent in the last five years, from $617,190,000 to $763,062,000. Maine agricultural fairs are one of many opportunities throughout the year for young people and future farmers to learn about agriculture as a profession.”  

Quick facts about Maine’s 2013 fair season:

• Maine has 24 licensed fairs
• 860,000 people visited Maine fairs
• $1.5 million in premiums went to exhibitors, directly impacting local economies
• Most northern fair: Northern Maine Fair, Presque Isle
• Most southern fair: Acton Fair, Acton, Maine
• Largest fair: Fryeburg Fair (332,500 visitors)
• 2,100-plus pairs of professional cattle and horses pulled
• 3,000-plus photographs & paintings were displayed in exhibit halls
• 2,700-plus beef and dairy cattle were exhibited

Schedule

July 3-6 Houlton Fair at Houlton
A small fair featuring livestock, crafts, midway and state entertainment.

July 10-13 Ossipee Valley Fair at South Hiram
Old-fashioned fair, unique exhibit halls, lots of livestock, midway, drag racing, animal pull events.

July 18-20 Waterford World's Fair  at North Waterford
A small family oriented agricultural fair, featuring local vendors, entertainment and livestock. Old MacDonald's Barn full of animals to touch, outside stage with local talent, demonstrations and livestock exhibits.

July 24-27 Pittston Fair at Pittston
Small, family-oriented country fair. Midway, animal pulling events, children’s games, Strawberry Festival.

July 25-August 3 Bangor State Fair at Bangor
A large family fair featuring a midway, animal exhibits, crafts, commercial exhibits, flower show.

July 25-August 2 Northern Maine Fair at Presque Isle
Large family fair, lots of rides and exhibits, horse pulling, harness racing, tractor pulling, demo derby.

July 31-August 3 Monmouth Fair at Monmouth
A small family agricultural fair with midway, animal exhibits, crafts and animal pull events.

August 5-10 Topsham Fair at Topsham
Agricultural exhibits, animal pull events, 4H, crafts, midway and harness racing.

August 7-16 Skowhegan State Fair at Skowhegan
A large agricultural fair featuring a huge midway, animal exhibits, crafts, commercial exhibits, flower show, animal pull events and harness racing.

August 16-23 Union Fair at Union
A large family fair famous for the annual State of Maine Wild Blueberry Festival. Large midway, crafts, animal pull events, harness racing.

August 21-24 Piscataquis Valley Fair at Dover-Foxcroft
Agricultural exhibits, milking parlor, home made ice cream, crafts, midway, mechanical pulling, demo derbies, animal pulling and stage shows.

August 21-24 Acton Fair at Acton
Outstanding exhibits, 4-H, livestock exhibit, flower show, animal pull events, midway.

August 24-September 1 Windsor Fair at Windsor
A large, progressive fair with extensive agricultural, art/crafts exhibits. Large midway, animal pull events, harness racing and mechanical pulling.

August 28-September 1 Blue Hill Fair at Blue Hill
Great country fair, midway, exhibits, non-parimutuel racing, animal pull events and entertainment.

August 29-September 1 Springfield Fair at Springfield
Stage shows, animal and mechanical pulling, antique autos, midway and livestock exhibits.

August 29-September 1 Harmony Free Fair at Harmony
Free Admission, Free Parking, Stage Shows, Animal and Mechanical Pulling, Midway, Demo Derby, Livestock and Exhibit Hall.

September 4-6 Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair at Clinton
Clinton Family oriented agricultural fair with animal and mechanical pulling, midway, exhibit halls, stage entertainment and woodsmen contest.

September 5-7 Litchfield Fair at Litchfield
Country fair with large midway, agricultural exhibits, livestock, animal pull events. Historical fair museum.

September 7-14 Oxford County Fair at Oxford
Livestock shows, animal pull events, midway, crafts, exhibits, and a new harness race track.

September 12-14 New Portland Lion's Fair at North New Portland
Midway, exhibit hall, animal and mechanical pulling, crafts, livestock exhibits, woodsmen day and stage shows.

September 14-20 Farmington Fair at Farmington
Large midway, exhibit halls, livestock exhibits, animal pull events, harness racing and demolition derby.

September 19-21 Common Ground Fair at Unity
A celebration of rural life, demonstrations, Maine-Organic produced foods and crafts and livestock exhibits.

September 21-27 Cumberland Fair at Cumberland Center
Large exhibit halls, midway and livestock exhibits. Animal pull events and harness racing.

September 28-October 5 Fryeburg Fair at Fryeburg
Maine's largest agricultural fair. Beautiful setting in prime foliage season. Exhibit halls, museum, harness racing and livestock shows.

More information on Maine’s agricultural fairs, including the Houlton Fair, can be found at www.getrealmaine.com

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to www.maine.gov/dacf