Granite State Stuff : Deerfield Fair

New at Deerfield Fair this year: a giant pumpkin contest!

AskLisa — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:21:00 GMT

The monster pumpkins will soon be rolling into the 133rd Deerfield Fair. On Thursday night, October 1, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association (NHGPGA), the fair is holding a “weigh off” for pumpkins predicted to be in the 1,000-pound range.

“We’ve had really big pumpkins at the fair before,” says Deerfield Fair fruits and vegetables superintendent William Stevens. “But by partnering with the NHGPGA, we expect to see some of the largest and heaviest ever.” Anyone with a giant pumpkin is eligible and no preregistration is necessary. “But 6pm on October 1 is the cut-off,” adds Stevens. “Contestants can drive their vehicles to the fair’s tractor pull area where we’ll unload and weigh their pumpkins. When all pumpkins have been weighed, we’ll announce winners in each of two divisions, adult and junior (age 16 and under). The top five adults will share prizes from $100 to $600, the top five juniors will share prizes from $20 to $60. The first-place winner in each division will also get a trophy and their name on a plaque to be displayed in the fair’s Fruits & Vegetables Building.”

In addition to just a handful of selected locations around the state, the NHGPGA is making the Deerfield Fair a top-class weigh off site for giant pumpkin growers. The association will also host an educational booth during the four-day fair. Says Stevens, “They’ll even have seeds available to the public for future giant pumpkins!”

Since 1876, the Deerfield Fair – “New England’s Oldest ‘Family Fair’®” – has been a living tribute to the state’s rural and farming heritage and a tradition for generations of families. The fair offers horse shows, cattle competitions, tractor pulls and log-cutting contests, entertainment, and the annual crowning of Miss Deerfield Fair. Those who wait all year just to sample the terrific and varied fair food will find everything from sausage subs to old-fashioned cotton candy to funnel cake.

The Deerfield Fair runs October 1 through October 4 and is accessible via Route 101 exit 3, then north on Route 43 to the fairgrounds at 34 Stage Road. A midway offers exciting amusement park rides and games. Deerfield Fair is a great deal: two adults with three kids age 12 or under can enjoy the Deerfield Fair for a total of only $16, including free parking. Overnight camping is available. More information, directions, and a complete events listing are available at http://www.deerfieldfair.com.

Demolition Derby is finale of 133rd Deerfield Fair

AskLisa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:57:00 GMT

At 5pm on Sunday, October 4, “New England’s Oldest ‘Family Fair®” will go out with a bang as fairgoers enjoy the excitement of Deerfield Fair’s demolition derby.

“The derby gets more popular every year,” says Deerfield Fair Association president Sheryl Bolduc, “and the excitement for this year’s competition is sure to be better than ever.” The fair’s demolition derby is held in the tractor pull area, near entrance gate C. “Even in last year’s rainy weather, everyone had a lot of fun,” remembers Bolduc. “And the crowds just keep getting bigger. For those who’ve never been to a derby, it’s like adults playing bumper cars… only with real cars. There are rules, of course, but basically the drivers compete for a $850 cash prize and bragging rights by smashing into each other until there’s only one car left that can still move under its own power.”

The fair takes a number of safety precautions. “To begin with,” explains Bolduc, “the specially prepared cars never get going very fast, and they get slower and slower as they get more and more banged up. When a car can no longer move, the driver signals and the remaining cars allow the driver to exit the vehicle safely. Nobody gets hurt and it’s just a whole lot of fun for the whole family.”

The Deerfield Fair, October 1 - 4, is a living tribute to the state’s rural and farming heritage, a tradition for generations of families, and offers horse shows, cattle competitions, sheep herding and 4-H demonstrations, and swine and poultry judging. Fairgoers can cheer on their favorites in horse and tractor pulls, log-cutting contests and much more. There are also various shows, music, magic, puppets, high-wire acts and more on the fair’s several stages and performance areas. Another highlight is the crowning of Miss Deerfield Fair.

For all four days, the fair’s exciting midway, with rides and games, is a favorite attraction; on October 2 and October 4, all rides are just $20 from 9am-5pm. Those who wait all year just to sample the terrific and varied fair food will find everything from sausage subs to old-fashioned cotton candy to funnel cake. The Deerfield Fair is accessible via Route 101 exit 3, then north on Route 43 to the fairgrounds at 34 Stage Road. There is free parking, and overnight camping is available. More information, directions, and a complete events listing are available at http://www.deerfieldfair.com.

Plenty of events at 2009 Deerfield Fair Opening October 1

AskLisa — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:18:00 GMT

“New England’s Oldest ‘Family Fair’®” – the Deerfield Fair – opens October 1 for its 133rd year. Four full days of events, both old and new, take place at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in Deerfield, New Hampshire. “You can’t help having a good time at the Deerfield Fair! This is a good old country fair, a family fair,” says Deerfield Fair Association president Sheryl Bolduc. “Everybody is watching their budgets these days. And this fair packs in a lot of entertainment for one low admission price. Two adults with three kids age 12 or under pay just $16 for the whole family, including all exhibits and shows, and parking is free. It’s a great deal for a full day of family fun.”

Following opening ceremonies at 9am on Thursday, October 1, the fair kicks off with the first of several all-breed horse and dairy shows, and sheep judging. Throughout the day, fairgoers can enjoy everything from horse pulling to a woodsmen contest, plus magic and other stage shows, and live music such as country music singer Shep Spinney, performing at 7pm. According to longtime fair director and former horse-pulling competitor “Junior” Gardner, “You can go down to the barn, we have pig scramblin’ there,” says Gardner. “You wanna see them little kids get after them pigs, oh my, that’s somthin’ to see!” Many events are repeated every day of the fair, such as the “Holy Cow, Mr. Pig, and Bully Show”.

Day two offers cattle pulling, The Flying Wallendas Family Circus, and the Miss Deerfield Fair pageant. October 3 features a number of 4-H shows and various musical performances, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe and Drum Band as well as the second annual fiddler’s contest. Fiddlers from throughout the region will take the stage to see who will win top honors.
Performing on day four, the Granite State Cloggers are always a crowd favorite. And the fair’s grand finale is the competition and crashes of the fourth annual Demolition Derby, as specially prepared klunkers and junkers race for fun and prize money. “Also returning for a second year is our banjo contest,” adds Bolduc. “Pickers and strummers get together to give some great musical performances and enjoy a friendly competition.”

For all four days of the fair, a midway offers exciting amusement park rides and games; on October 2 and October 4, all rides are just $20 from 9am-5pm. For those who wait all year just to sample the terrific and varied fair food will find everything from sausage subs to old-fashioned cotton candy to funnel cake. The Deerfield Fair runs October 1 through October 4 and is accessible via Route 101 exit 3, then north on Route 43 to the fairgrounds at 34 Stage Road. There is free parking, and overnight camping is available. More information, directions, and a complete events listing are available at http://www.deerfieldfair.com.

Demolition Derby at the 132nd Deerfield Fair

AskLisa — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:05:00 GMT

Again this year, the final day of New England's Oldest 'Family Fair® will go out with a bang, as fairgoers enjoy the excitement of Deerfield Fair's demolition derby.

"The derby gets more popular every year," says Deerfield Fair Association president Sheryl Bolduc, "and the excitement is already building for this year's contest!" The fair's first demolition derby was held two years ago at the tractor pull area, near entrance gate C. "Even with rainy weather, the crowd had a lot of fun," remembers Bolduc. "And the crowds just kept getting bigger. For those who've never been to a derby, it's like adults playing bumper cars, only with real cars. There are rules, of course, but basically the drivers compete for a $750 cash prize by smashing into each other until there's only one car left that can still move under its own power."

The fair takes a number of safety precautions. "To begin with," explains Bolduc, "the cars never get going very fast, and they get and they get slower and slower as they get more and more banged up. When a car can no longer move, the driver signals and the remaining cars allow the person to exit the track safely. Nobody gets hurt and it's just a whole lot of fun for the whole family."

The demolition derby closes the four-day fair, which opens September 25 at the Deerfield Fairgrounds on Route 43 in Deerfield, New Hampshire. A living tribute to the state's rural and farming heritage and a tradition for generations of families, it offers horse shows, cattle competitions, sheep herding and 4-H demonstrations, and swine and poultry judging. Fairgoers can cheer on their favorites in horse and tractor pulls, log-cutting contests and much more. There are also various shows, music, magic, puppets and more on the fair's several stages and performance areas. Another highlight is the crowning of the 2008 Miss Deerfield Fair.

"This year will feature the First Annual Fiddlers Contest on Saturday, September 27, and the First Annual Banjo Contest on Sunday, September 28," says Fair Director Alan O'Neal. "There'll be a whole lot of hand clapping and foot stomping at these two new events!" A midway offers exciting amusement park rides plus the terrific and varied fair food, everything from sausage subs to old-fashioned cotton candy to funnel cake. Adult tickets are just 8 dollars, kids 12 and under get in free, and over one hundred acres of on-site parking is available free of charge. More information is available at http://www.deerfieldfair.com.

2008 Deerfield Fair to open September 25

AskLisa — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:32:00 GMT

New England's Oldest 'Family Fair'® - the Deerfield Fair - opens September 25 for its 132nd year. Four full days of events, both old and new, take
place at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in Deerfield, New Hampshire. You can't help having a good time at the Deerfield Fair! This is a good old country
fair, a family fair, explains Alan O'Neal, Deerfield Fair board member. Just one low price and acres of free parking.

A little money goes a long way at the Deerfield Fair, adds Deerfield Fair Association president Sheryl Bolduc. Two adults with three kids age 12 or
under pay just $16 for the whole family, including all exhibits and shows, and parking is free. It's a great deal for a full day of family fun.

The fair kicks off with the first of several all-breed horse shows and sheep judging at 9:00am on Thursday, September 25. Throughout the day, fairgoers can enjoy everything from a dairy show to the magic of B.J. Hickman, from a woodsmen contest to country music's Don Campbell Trio, performing at 6:00pm. According to longtime fair director and horse-pulling competitor Junior Gardner, You can go down to the barn, we have pig scramblin' there, says Gardner. You wanna see them little kids get after them pigs, oh my, that's somthin' to see! Many events are repeated every day of the fair.

Day two offers cattle pulling, The Flying Wallendas Family Circus, and concludes with the 2008 Miss Deerfield Fair pageant. September 27 features a number of 4-H shows, live animal demonstrations, and various musical performances, including the First Annual Fiddlers Contest. Fiddlers from all over the region will take the stage to see who will win top honors, says fair association president Sheryl Bolduc. The Fiddlers Contest is a great addition to our fair, a competition that is as fun to watch as it is to compete in!

The Ancient Order of Hibernians pipe and drum band is always a crowd favorite. And the fair ends with a crash and many crunches as the Third Annual Demolition Derby pits specially prepared klunkers against junkers for fun and prize money on September 28. Also new this year is our First Annual Banjo Contest, adds Bolduc. Pickers and strummers get together to give some great musical performances and enjoy a friendly competition. There'll be lots of hand clapping and foot stomping at this new and exciting event.

A midway offers exciting amusement park rides and games. For those who wait all year just to sample the terrific and varied fair food will find everything from sausage subs to old-fashioned cotton candy to funnel cake. The Deerfield Fair runs September 25 through September 28 and is accessible via Route 101 exit 3, then north on Route 43 to the fairgrounds. There are acres of free parking, and there is also plenty of room for overnight camping. More information and directions from specific areas are available at http://www.deerfieldfair.com.