As the cooler, autumn weather moves in, state and county fairgrounds come alive will the smells of fried foods and barnyard animals.

The first such fair to take place is the 94th annual Hopkinton State Fair, Sept. 3 to 7.

One of the biggest draws of the Hopkinton Fair is the demolition derby, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5 and 6, at 6:30 p.m. During this event, drivers will turn full-size cars into compact cars. There is a separate admission fee for this event – $7 for adults and $6 for children 2 to 12.

In addition to the demolition derby, there will also be many 4-H shows and exhibits, including horses, goats, oxen, sheep, llamas/alpacas and more.

Local band Jeff Dearborn and the Contoocook Blues Society will perform again this year, taking the stage Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. and Monday from noon to 5 p.m.

The next fair takes place Sept. 11 to 13 at the Hillsborough County 4-H Fairgrounds in New Boston.

This year marks the 52nd year this fair has been in operation.

According to Jolee Chase, program associate for 4-H youth development, this fair has a bigger agricultural component than many other state and county fairs, but size-wise, it is one of the smaller fairs in the state.

Chase said all of the favorite 4-H shows will be offered, including beef, goats, sheep, rabbits, poultry, working steers, horses and more.

In addition to 4-H events, there will also be an apple pie-baking contest, a doughnut- baking contest and a King Arthur flour recipe contest. Any apple pie recipe will be accepted, but specific recipes for doughnuts and the King Arthur flour recipe contest are available online at www.hcafair.com. Pies should be delivered to the youth center on Sept. 10 between 2 and 9 p.m.

Hopkinton Fair schedule of events
Thursday, Sept. 3
• Stock farm tractor pull – 9 a.m.
• Gymkhana – 10 a.m.
• Horse pulling – 11 a.m.
• Open sheep show – 1 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 2 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 3 and 7 p.m.
• Moomania – 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4
• Garden tractor pull – 8 a.m.
• 4-H horse show – 9 a.m.
• Open dairy show – 9 a.m.
• Open sheep show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H working steer – 10 a.m.
• Horse pulling – 11 a.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
• Open beef and cattle show – 2 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 2 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 3 p.m.
• Moomania – 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
• 4-H llama/alpacas – 6 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 7 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5
• 4-H dog show – 8 a.m.
• Horse show – 8:30 a.m.
• Draft horse farm show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H working steer – 9 a.m.
• 4-H dairy goat show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H swine show – 11 a.m.
• Cattle pulling – 11 a.m.
• Noteable Decades – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – Noon, 2 and 5 p.m.
• Open dairy – 1 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 1 p.m.
• 4-H dairy – 1:30 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 3 p.m.
• 4-H sheep lead line – 6 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 7 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6
• 4-H working steer – 8 a.m.
• Horse show – 8:30 a.m.
• 4-H sheep show – 9 a.m.
• 4-H dairy show – 9 a.m.
• Cattle pulling – 11 a.m.
• Moomania – 11 a.m., 3, 6 and 8 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – Noon, 2 and 5 p.m.
• 4-H swine show – 1 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – 1 p.m.
• 4-H working steer – 1:30 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 3 p.m.
• 4-H llama/alpacas – 3 p.m.
• 4-H beef cattle show – 3:30 p.m.
• Four ox working hitch – 5:30 p.m.
• 4-H dairy goat costume – 5:30 p.m.
• Cattle pulling – 7 p.m.
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 7 and 9 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 7
• 4-H dairy goat/pack trail – 8 a.m.
• Oxen show – 8:30 a.m.
• Horse show – 8:30 a.m.
• Moomania – 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• 4-H sheep show – 11 a.m.
• Pony pulling – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Free Cycle bikes and skateboards – 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
• Magic of Ron Diamond – Noon
• Ron Diamond’s hypnosis – 4 p.m.
Hillsborough Fair schedule of events
Friday, Sept. 11
• Stock farm tractor pull – noon
• Horse log-skidding – 1 p.m.
• Flag ceremony – 5 p.m.
• Giant pumpkin weigh-off – 6 p.m.
• Fireworks – 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12
• Ox pulling – 9 a.m.
• Horsehoe-pitching contest – 9 a.m.
• Farm tractor pull – 9 a.m.
• Gymkhana – 9 a.m.
• 4-H working steers – 9 a.m.
• 4-H sheep show – 10 a.m.
• 4-H rabbit show – 10 a.m.
• Divine Intervention – Noon
• Audubon Center reptiles – 1 p.m.
• Cowboy shootout – 1 p.m.
• Sonic Boomers – 2 p.m.
• 4-H goat fit and show – 2 p.m.
• Square dancing – 3 p.m.
• New Boston Recreation Center dance recital – 4 p.m.
• 4-H beef show – 4 p.m.
• Compost Heap – 6 p.m.
• 4-H sheep lead line show – 6 p.m.
• Poetry slam – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13
• Horseshoe-pitching contest – 9 a.m.
• 4-H dog show – 9 a.m.
• Sheep block and trim – 10 a.m.
• 4-H goat classes – 10 a.m.
• 4-H dairy show – 10 a.m.
• Divine Intervention – 11 a.m.
• Horse pulling – 11 a.m.
• 4-H sheep block and trimming – 11 a.m.
• Compost Heap – Noon
• Truck pull – Noon
• 4-H market lamb show – Noon
• Sonic Boomers – 1 p.m.
• Bird of prey – 1 p.m.
• 4-H working steer show – 1 p.m.
• Police K-9 demonstration – 2 p.m.
• Horse pulling – 3 p.m.
• 4-H sheep market lambs auction – 3 p.m.
• Free-for-all horse pulling – 5 p.m.
• Awards program/raffle drawings – 5:30 p.m.