FAMILY

Exploring The Last Green Valley: Fair season is almost upon us

Bill Reid For The Bulletin
Bill Reid

The calendar says it is the first weekend of August, which tells us that summer is slip-sliding away, but don’t despair, that also means fair season is upon us.

The Last Green Valley is home to several wonderful country fairs that are a long-held tradition in our region.

There is something about a country fair that brings out feelings of home, history, farms and a whole bunch of good family fun.

There are three fairs happening in The Last Green Valley over the next several weeks. Mark your calendar and plan your trip to the fair!

Last year was my first visit to the Lebanon Country Fair, and I had a great time.

It started in 1959 and is sponsored by the Lebanon Lion’s Club. It takes place during the second weekend in August, and this year runs from Aug. 7 to the 9. 

If you are looking for a smaller fair but with all the exhibits, events, performers, animals and vendors of the larger fairs, then the Lebanon Country Fair is for you.

They also have a Demolition Derby on Saturday night, which is a popular attraction, and even a pig scramble, which is lots of fun to watch or participate in. 

You’ll want to check out the website lebanoncountryfair.org before going to get directions and the list of performers, admission price, etc.

What I like the most about the Lebanon Country Fair is the family-oriented feel of the event, with lots of local folks visiting each other, many local vendors and exhibits, and a sense of community pride in the farming traditions that live on today in Lebanon.

Many local non-profit organizations utilize the fair as their main fundraiser, so you can feel good about supporting worthy causes while having lots of fun.

The Brooklyn Fair is also a wonderful fair and takes the title as the oldest, continuously active agricultural fair in the United State.

Larger than the Lebanon Fair, the Brooklyn Fair also is very family-oriented, with many agriculture exhibits, animals, entertainment and more.

The Brooklyn Fair has many interesting historical displays and special events. It is always held in late August, and this year is from Aug. 27 to 30.

You’ll want to check out the website at brooklynfair.org before going for information on directions, admission, live entertainment, etc.

I like many things about the Brooklyn Fair but the one event I like to see is the working steer competition held each day.

The working steer competition really shows off the training and skill between the owner and the animals as they are guided around the ring and hooked up to various implements and wagons.

The largest fair in the region is the Woodstock Fair, which is always held on Labor Day weekend, this year is from Sept. 4 to 7.

This is the 155th year of the Woodstock Fair, so it also has lots of history and is a long-standing tradition in Woodstock and the region.

Before attending the Woodstock Fair you’ll want to check out their website at woodstockfair.com for directions, admission, schedule of events and list of live entertainment.

The Woodstock Fair is huge, with hundreds of vendors, a very large midway section with games and rides, lots of animals, an open horse show, go-kart races and lots of vegetable and flower displays.

The Woodstock Fair is also known for getting national performing acts, so you’ll want to check the schedule to see who is on the Main Stage each day.

One of the interesting and increasingly popular exhibits at the Woodstock Fair is the birthing center, where two or three cows that are due to deliver calves are on display.

Dairy farmers and veterinarians are on hand to describe the process of birth, and when a cow does deliver, the viewing area is packed with interested people. Over the four days of the fair, several calves are born.

My favorite part of the Woodstock Fair is the Brunn Barn exhibit.

Located at the breezy top of the hill and adjacent to the South entrance, the Brunn Barn is full of agricultural tools and implements from the past.

Many of the implements were once used in Woodstock and herald the farming traditions of the town and region.

There are 18 other fairs occurring throughout the state over the next few months and you’ll want to check out the list provided by the state tourism office by visiting their website at ctvisit.com, clicking on the “Don’t Miss” tab then scrolling down to the “Connecticut’s Country Fairs” tab.

Between Aug. 7 and Oct. 11, there are lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy the great tradition of a country fair.

There really is nothing like a country fair to remind us of the wonderful region we live in, our treasured agricultural traditions and the sense of community that comes by returning again to events that are such a wonderful part of family memories.

See you at the fair!

Bill Reid is chief ranger of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor and has lived in the region for more than 30 years. He can be reached at bill@tlgv.org.