Your Weekly Guide to Life in Midcoast Maine

A summertime tradition — Union Fair

In the mid-1800s many local families depended upon agriculture as their main source of income and survival.

After a long, hot summer of endless toil, farmers gathered for a day of celebration. Feasting on the season’s harvest and competing against each other for largest, best and tastiest became the basis for what we now know in Maine as the agricultural fair.

Not only did farmers compete with crops and livestock, women also entered the “fruits of their summer labor” in the form of needlework, cooking and preserves.

Today, hard-working individuals continue to keep this part of our past alive by offering a sample of what the initial festival meant in the form of the agricultural fair. These fairs have evolved over the years to include more modern attractions and to keep in tune with the times, but the old flavor of the celebration more than 150 years ago is still evident.

Union Fair is an event for everyone and has activities of interest for all ages. This year’s fair continues to hold its promise of being “A Real Maine Agricultural Fair.”

The week-long festivities open this year on Sunday, Aug. 18. On Sunday afternoon there will be Harness Racing, Livestock Shows, and a 3 p.m. Pig Scramble for youngsters. At 4 p.m. there will be a “Real Maine Man Wild Blueberry Baking Contest” followed at 4:30 p.m. by a “He-Man” contest in the Pulling Ring. A Blueberry Pie Eating Contest will be held in the area of the Grandstand at 7:30 p.m. followed by the coronation pageant of the 43rd annual State of Maine Wild Blueberry Queen.

On Monday, Aug. 19, the 4-H and Open Dairy Shows begin. Judging will be going on in the exhibition hall and there will be the 4-H Pig Races at 6 p.m. Bracelet night (4 to 10 p.m.) will allow unlimited midway rides for the purchase of the bracelet. At the grandstand, beginning at 8 p.m., there will be a local talent show.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, is Senior Citizen Day, with admission for seniors only $2.50 until 5 p.m. (ages 62 & over). The day will feature the continuance of the Open Dairy Show, the 4-H Horse Show, 4-H Beef Show and the 4-H Goat Show. In the pulling ring the 1600, 2000, and 2400 lbs. Classes of Steers will compete, as well as the popular pulling event — the 4-Ox Hitch. At 7 p.m. fans can enjoy the 6-foot Elimination Pull. At 4 p.m. in Wild Blueberry Acres, there will be the “Grandma’s Favorite Wild Blueberry Cooking Contest.”

The always popular Demolition Derby roars off at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, will be “Moxie Day,” honoring Union native Dr. A. Thompson and his 1885 patented invention, “Moxie Nerve Food.” Special Moxie exhibits will be on display at the Matthews Museum. There will also be local historians on the grounds to answer questions.

Also Wednesday, the larger classes of oxen will be pulling throughout the day. The Open Sheep Show, 4-H Swine Show and 4-H Pig Races will entertain you at the show ring. Pulling sweepstakes for oxen begins at 7 p.m.

Entertainment on the grandstand stage will be country music artist Debbie Myers, beginning at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 22, is Kiddie’s Day, with a special price bracelet on sale from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The day will feature the Open Beef Show, Horse Pulling (with the 3-Horse Hitch event), and 4-H Dog and Rabbit Shows. There also will be a bubblegum blowing contest, Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake Baking Contest and an appearance by Maine humorist Henry Bascomb.

At the grandstand stage, beginning at 8 p.m., national recording rock artists “Jeremiah Freed” will entertain. The group is fresh off their opening show for rock legends Lynnrd Skynnrd.

Friday, Aug. 23, is “Maine Wild Blueberry Festival Day” at Union Fair.

This special day gets off to its start with Blueberry Pancake Breakfasts beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing until 11 a.m. Included in the morning will be an all-you-can-eat blueberry pancake contest and pancake flipping contest at 9 a.m.

The Open Beef Show will continue, as will the Horse Pulling, with the 12-foot elimination and sweepstakes. Free individual blueberry pies will be served beginning at 11 a.m. At 4:30 p.m. visitors can attend the judging of the annual Wild Blueberry Pie Baking Contest.

At 7 p.m. there will be a 2-person Blindfolded Wild Blueberry Pie Eating Contest.

Rounding off the day’s activities will be a performance by Country & Pop Music Star Juice Newton at the grandstand at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24, is “4-H Centennial & Family Day,” and will be devoted to children’s activities, with a pedal tractor pull and many games and activities starting at 9 a.m. The midway opens at 11 a.m. and ride prices are reduced until 5 p.m.

Beginning at 10 a.m. there will be a Kids Cooking Contest. The Union Fair Parade begins at 11 a.m. At noon in Sherman Park drawings for new bicycles will be held.

Farm tractors will compete in the pulling ring in the morning followed by the judging of show steers.

The 2002 Union Fair will end with a grandstand show featuring a Truck Pull at 7 p.m.

Throughout Union Fair Week, demonstrations on a variety of topics, and special entertainment, will be held several times each day in Sherman Park. Events for the week are listed on the sign in the park.

Harness racing will be held daily - Sunday, Friday & Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.; Monday - Thursday at 3 p.m.

Union Fair and the Maine Wild Blueberry Festival are a highlight of summer in Midcoast Maine and they are recognized statewide as celebrations truly indicative of the best our state has to offer.

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TALK OF THE TOWN: Knox County A summertime tradition — Union Fair In the mid-1800s many local families depended upon agriculture as their main source of income and survival. After a long, hot summer of endless toil, farmers gathered for a day of celebration. Feasting on the season’s harvest and competing against each other for largest, best and tastiest became the basis for what we now know in Maine as the agricultural fair. Not only did farmers compete with crops and livestock, women also entered the “fruits of their summer labor” in the form of needlework, cooking and preserves. Today, hard-working individuals continue to keep this part of our past alive by offering a sample of what the initial festival meant in the form of the agricultural fair. These fairs have evolved over the years to include more modern attractions and to keep in tune with the times, but the old flavor of the celebration more than 150 years ago is still evident. Union Fair is an event for everyone and has activities of interest for all ages. This year’s fair continues to hold its promise of being “A Real Maine Agricultural Fair.” The week-long festivities open this year on Sunday, Aug. 18. On Sunday afternoon there will be Harness Racing, Livestock Shows, and a 3 p.m. Pig Scramble for youngsters. At 4 p.m. there will be a “Real Maine Man Wild Blueberry Baking Contest” followed at 4:30 p.m. by a “He-Man” contest in the Pulling Ring. A Blueberry Pie Eating Contest will be held in the area of the Grandstand at 7:30 p.m. followed by the coronation pageant of the 43rd annual State of Maine Wild Blueberry Queen. On Monday, Aug. 19, the 4-H and Open Dairy Shows begin. Judging will be going on in the exhibition hall and there will be the 4-H Pig Races at 6 p.m. Bracelet night (4 to 10 p.m.) will allow unlimited midway rides for the purchase of the bracelet. At the grandstand, beginning at 8 p.m., there will be a local talent show. Tuesday, Aug. 20, is Senior Citizen Day, with admission for seniors only $2.50 until 5 p.m. (ages 62 & over). The day will feature the continuance of the Open Dairy Show, the 4-H Horse Show, 4-H Beef Show and the 4-H Goat Show. In the pulling ring the 1600, 2000, and 2400 lbs. Classes of Steers will compete, as well as the popular pulling event — the 4-Ox Hitch. At 7 p.m. fans can enjoy the 6-foot Elimination Pull. At 4 p.m. in Wild Blueberry Acres, there will be the “Grandma’s Favorite Wild Blueberry Cooking Contest.” The always popular Demolition Derby roars off at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, will be “Moxie Day,” honoring Union native Dr. A. Thompson and his 1885 patented invention, “Moxie Nerve Food.” Special Moxie exhibits will be on display at the Matthews Museum. There will also be local historians on the grounds to answer questions. Also Wednesday, the larger classes of oxen will be pulling throughout the day. The Open Sheep Show, 4-H Swine Show and 4-H Pig Races will entertain you at the show ring. Pulling sweepstakes for oxen begins at 7 p.m. Entertainment on the grandstand stage will be country music artist Debbie Myers, beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, is Kiddie’s Day, with a special price bracelet on sale from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The day will feature the Open Beef Show, Horse Pulling (with the 3-Horse Hitch event), and 4-H Dog and Rabbit Shows. There also will be a bubblegum blowing contest, Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake Baking Contest and an appearance by Maine humorist Henry Bascomb. At the grandstand stage, beginning at 8 p.m., national recording rock artists “Jeremiah Freed” will entertain. The group is fresh off their opening show for rock legends Lynnrd Skynnrd. Friday, Aug. 23, is “Maine Wild Blueberry Festival Day” at Union Fair. This special day gets off to its start with Blueberry Pancake Breakfasts beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing until 11 a.m. Included in the morning will be an all-you-can-eat blueberry pancake contest and pancake flipping contest at 9 a.m. The Open Beef Show will continue, as will the Horse Pulling, with the 12-foot elimination and sweepstakes. Free individual blueberry pies will be served beginning at 11 a.m. At 4:30 p.m. visitors can attend the judging of the annual Wild Blueberry Pie Baking Contest. At 7 p.m. there will be a 2-person Blindfolded Wild Blueberry Pie Eating Contest. Rounding off the day’s activities will be a performance by Country & Pop Music Star Juice Newton at the grandstand at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, is “4-H Centennial & Family Day,” and will be devoted to children’s activities, with a pedal tractor pull and many games and activities starting at 9 a.m. The midway opens at 11 a.m. and ride prices are reduced until 5 p.m. Beginning at 10 a.m. there will be a Kids Cooking Contest. The Union Fair Parade begins at 11 a.m. At noon in Sherman Park drawings for new bicycles will be held. Farm tractors will compete in the pulling ring in the morning followed by the judging of show steers. The 2002 Union Fair will end with a grandstand show featuring a Truck Pull at 7 p.m. Throughout Union Fair Week, demonstrations on a variety of topics, and special entertainment, will be held several times each day in Sherman Park. Events for the week are listed on the sign in the park. Harness racing will be held daily - Sunday, Friday & Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.; Monday - Thursday at 3 p.m. Union Fair and the Maine Wild Blueberry Festival are a highlight of summer in Midcoast Maine and they are recognized statewide as celebrations truly indicative of the best our state has to offer. Up close and persnonal •Gear list • Float plan •Kayak rentals TALK OF THE TOWN: Lincoln County • Waldo County • Knox County • OUT AND ABOUT• MOVIE REVIEWS KAYAKING THE MIDCOAST:
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