Alexa Harmon of Bowdoinham designed this year’s T-shirts for anyone who donates to the fair. Contributed / Kathi Yergin.
The Topsham Fair is gearing up for its 168th year of celebrating Maine agriculture Aug. 9-14 with 41 new vendors, an added craft barn, an escape room and an additional senior citizen day.
“We’re looking forward to all the new vendors we have and being bigger than in the past,” said Kathi Yergin, second vice president of the board that oversees the Topsham Fair.
An estimated 90,000 people are expected to walk through the fairground gates, similar to last year’s numbers, she said.
“We get a lot of people from other parts of Maine,” she said. “Because of COVID, I think they’re looking for opportunities to get out.”
In addition to new attractions, attendees can also expect the fair’s popular staples such as truck pulling, the demolition derby and mud runs.
Leon Brillant, president of the fair’s board, expressed particular excitement for the demolition derby and the fireworks display that will take place during it.
Organizers are excited about the new craft barn this year in addition to the one they already had.
“The craft barns are a mixture of everything from homemade crafts, small businesses like the Sippy Cup Consignment and The Sausage Kitchen, to origami and much more,” Yergin said.
The fair will also include live music, pony rides, juggling and baking contests. Some of its animal attractions are goat milking demonstrations, horse pulling and a farm where attendees can see and pet the animals.
“I’m expecting a good fair and we’ve got a lot of volunteers this year,” Brillant said.
Both Yergin and Brillant said they were grateful for the large number of volunteers who have contributed to the event.
Admission is $15 for an unlimited ride bracelet, and on Tuesday and Sunday it’s $5 for those 65 and older. Gates open at 8 a.m. daily and events go until around 7 p.m. most days.
For more information, visit topshamfair.net.
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