It's Fair Season in Maine

   Most locals feel that September is like a deep breath after the busy, heated pace of the summer.  Nights are chilly, morning fog laces the harbors and ponds and first color is appearing in the sugar maples.  The pace of life is definitely slower.  But best of all September is the month for the largest of the Maine county agricultural fairs; a time to reconnect with our rural heritage and marvel at the skills of local agricultural folks.

   Everyone who attends these County Fairs has a personal favorite and mine is The Common Ground Fair; self described as a "Celebration of Rural Life", and sponsored by MOFGA (The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association).  This rather unique gathering occurs each September on the weekend of the Autumn Equinox and proudly holds to some rather distinctive traditions - especially with regard to the food which  is "permitted" (grown in Maine/produced in Maine) and most notably for the food which is not permitted: coffee, tea and chocolate!

    I've never ceased to be amazed at how much Maine produces!  You can shop for world-class jewelry, museum quality pottery or fiber works, dried floral arrangements, gourd birdhouses, handmade wooden toys, hand crafted herbal creams and lotions, wool fleece or wool felt or wool spun or wool woven into marvelous clothing.

There are futuristic displays of the power of wind turbines or the benefits of home meat smokers. You can get detailed information on solar power or corn stoves. I'm a fan of the livestock demonstrations- especially the chicken judging and oxen pulling.  I love watching the draft horses pull logs or plow the demonstration gardens and often sit in on the short workshops on growing Heirloom tomatoes or saving seeds or collecting wild mushrooms. Since my summers are too busy for real gardening, I get a chance to garden vicariously.  Political action displays sit alongside the Whole Life tent, where free massages can be sampled.

    Throughout the sprawling fairgrounds the carnival aptmoshpere is enhanced by stilt walking clowns, Native American drummers, children on parade in vegetable costumes and the ever present army of volunteers who will help you sort your trash into the appropriate re-cycling bins.    

   There is no midway with carnival rides but there are lots of free musical performances to sample and the opportunity to try your hand at the popular Harry S. Truman Manure Pitching competition or The Pig Scramble.

   If you missed this fair, there's still time to plan on attending the State's largest agricultural fair in Fryberg- starting on September 30 and running until October 7th. Autumn color will be at peak, the temperature will be perfect and it's a great time to share in every county's annual celebration of rural life and the bounty we enjoy from the hard work of so many committed farmers, growers artisans and crafters.

    Get the details about all kinds of fall activities including the Fryberg Fair, at http://www.visitmaine.org/

   See you at the Fair!

Anita Palsgrove is the manager of Newcastle Square Vacation Rentals and she would be happy to help you plan a fall visit to the area.