The Best Summer County Fairs In Maine

One of Maine’s oldest consecutive summer events, dating back to 1849, is the Bangor State Fair. From July 25th through August 3rd, the town of Bangor hosts a ten-day agricultural and recreational festival. It features carnival rides, spinning scramblers, a carousel, live music performances, and demolition derbies, amongst many more. It all takes place at the historic Bass Park. To fit the agricultural theme, one can't miss the livestock exhibits and demonstrations, lumberjack shows, petting zoos, and blueberry and whoopie pie-eating contests. What began as an exhibition organized by the Bangor Horticultural Society has become an event that draws 20,000 to 30,000 attendees every summer. It is no wonder people come back year after year for more fun.

Combining forces with the Maine Wild Blueberry Festival is the Union Fair. From August 5th to August 9th, the fairgrounds of Union, Maine, come alive with a celebration of the state's farming heritage, with livestock shows, 4-H exhibits, carnival rides, harness racing, and demolition derbies. There are also opportunities to watch cattle, sheep, and horse pulling competitions, as well as the Farmers' Steer and Oxen Pulls. The fair is also home to the Maine Wild Blueberry Festival, where there is everything and anything to do with blueberries because blueberries are the state's official berry. At the festival, you can sample pies, pastries, and other treats. You can also watch the coronation of the Wild Blueberry Queen or join in the famous blueberry dessert and spitting contests as well. There are also arts and crafts stands, live music, a low-bush wild blueberry harvest, and a five-mile run for everyone to join in.

From August 9th to August 16th, the Topsham Fair invites its patrons to Topsham, Maine, for classic agriculture, traditional carnival rides, and motorsports. Main events at the fair include midway rides, harness racing, agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, truck pulling, and a demolition derby. There are also opportunities to get up close and personal with local farm animals, see ox and horse pulling events, and witness blacksmithing demonstrations. Founded in 1855, the fair celebrates Maine’s agricultural heritage and draws between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors every year for its mix of agricultural appreciation and midway carnival fun.

For ten days straight in August, the town of Skowhegan comes alive with the Skowhegan State Fair. The fair is a celebration of all things agriculture with animal judging, 4-H exhibits, harness racing, oxen pulls, and a large display of local produce and livestock. Some of the daily events that take place within the fairgrounds are dairy cattle, goat shows, and farmers' draft horse/steer pulls. Aside from the agricultural side of things, the fair is also home to a lively carnival. There is no shortage of things to do, and one can rest assured that there will be at least a number of activities to every taste. This includes tribute acts as entertainment, pig races, demolition derbies, craft exhibits, a Bingo Hall, and many more. Fair food options are plentiful and necessary to fuel yourself throughout the day, or the myriad competitions you could take part in, like the greased pole. Cotton candy and French fries are a must. The fair has been running for around three centuries, thanks to the contributions of the Somerset Central Agricultural Society, and serves to promote and celebrate farming throughout Maine.

Held annually on 275 acres of land in Windsor, Maine, the Windsor Fair is a ten-day fair that takes place from August 29th through September 7th and is not only a way to end the summer season on a high note, but is the second-largest agricultural fair in all of Maine. The main event of the fair is agriculture, like extensive farm animal exhibits, a robust 4-H livestock section, livestock shows, giant pumpkin contests, poultry shows, and the baby beef and lamb sales. Some demonstrations take place at the blacksmith shop, printing press, and sawmill. The fair was founded in 1888 and was used to support local farming and rural heritage in the state. Following its debut year, the fair has since evolved into the massive event we all know today.

While county fairs across America offer their own blend of state heritage and classic carnival fun, county fairs in Maine are celebrated for their deep-rooted farming history and for providing nostalgic, multi-generational fun. They seamlessly blend rural education and thrilling midway entertainment. So, if you have ever wanted to learn how to care for your own horse while waiting in line for a rollercoaster and munching on cotton candy, then coming to a county fair in Maine has all of the qualities you are looking for.