| SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 --
For seventy years, the annual North Haven fair has provided summertime fun, food and entertainment while educating attendees about Connecticut’s roots in farming.
“The fair is arranged as an educational feature about agriculture, love of the animals, the benefits of rural homes and the beauty of our New England countryside,” said Martha Vincent, North Haven Fair Association president. “There’s going to be plenty to eat at this year’s fair, and we have rides for younger kids as well as older kids.”
The 70th annual North Haven fair opened yesterday and will run through Sunday, Sept. 9. One highlight in 2012 is Kiley Evans — an “up-and-coming country performer,” Vincent said — performing at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday.
First incorporated into the entertainment schedule in 2011, Northeast Wrestling will return, with a 5 p.m. show on the main stage on Sunday. “People really loved the wrestling last year, so we brought it back,” Vincent said. “We also have the elephant ride back, where you can get up on the elephant. Everybody has been calling us about that, the elephant ride, and it’s back.”
Attendees can visit other fair staples. Exhibit halls once again will include local entrees for competitive categories such as vegetables, flowers, baking, sewing, woodworking, photography, sheep, cows, chickens, rabbits and more. Other competitions will be kids’ pie-eating contest on Saturday, kids’ toy tractor pulling on Saturday and Sunday and the ladies’ skillet toss on Sunday.
The yearly Old MacDonald’s Farm area will feature a petting zoo, alpacas, live hatching of baby chicks and shows by “Wind Over Wings,” a program which rehabilitates and educates the public about large birds like eagles and hawks. Additionally, Old MacDonald’s Farm will host demonstrations of pioneer life, cooking and blacksmithing.
Daily fair features include live music and Rosie’s Racing Pigs. Horse-drawing competitions occur Saturday at noon. Connecticut’s own teen/pop performer Beau Badrick will perform Friday night at 8 p.m. on the main stage.
Seven decades ago, North Haven’s annual fair was so small that it could be held on just a soccer field behind the town's former firehouse on Broadway. Today, the event sprawls across the Washington Avenue fairgrounds and throughout the properties numerous buildings, drawing 50,000-60,000 visitors each year.
"It's a complete family affair," Vincent said. "It's a wonderful day."
Parking is onsite.
For more information, visit northhaven-fair.com |
