The fair

It’s hard to convey what the fair is like. I’m so in it when I’m there that I forget to take photos. So much happens that I can’t write about it all. My little notebook that I bring with me just has a few cryptic notes about things I want to remember. It’s an all-encompassing experience.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Friday was sunny weather – just one photo, of the Granite Loom. Its design is based on Susan Barrett Merrill’s Journey Loom. I wove a strip in just before this woman stepped up.

Saturday morning, faint sun. First thing in the morning, we went to this market outside the fair but it was closed. They had a great Birch Lady on their porch though.

Saturday. Clouds rolled in, but it didn’t rain. We saw so much, talked to so many people. The Social and Political Action tent took up most of the morning. A very activist crowd. I listened to a talk from a worker’s coop expert and then another by a state representative promoting consumer-owned power. Later I shopped for seed garlic. There was a lot available. When the parades went by, I remembered to take photos. The bike parade announced itself with shouts of “Bike Parade” over and over. One of the things that went by was this pyramid.

A little later, the children’s parade. The costumes were fabulous.

I wandered through the woodworker’s area and saw this man making a pizza peel. And a spoon carving class in session. There are a lot of hands-on activities.

I was happy to see this young girl testing her strength. Note the smaller bell for children.

There was so much for kids to do. Some were happy just to slide down this hill on cardboard boxes over and over. This is only kind of carnival ride they have at this fair. There’s a hula hoop area with a lot of hoops available. I did some hooping and had a brief chat with a young girl about what we each could do.

Sweet Annie is the scent of the fair. I’d never heard of it before I started coming here. Many people had flower crowns made from it. These two young people are busy making crowns in a busy booth.

There are gardens everywhere and lots of information about farming and gardening. And they get results. I’m so lucky to live in a state where MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) is so powerful. And a big fair like this is so popular.

Sunday was a calmer day. We were running out of energy. We visited the exhibition hall and looked at the produce and read some of the judges’ comments. We watched a little of the judging of fermented foods. “Nicely balanced.” “Crisp.” “Loving the sweet peppers.” We visited a couple of vendors that we wanted to talk to some more. And bought some final things we wanted to take home. A quart of maple syrup and two native plants, a yellow coneflower and a showy goldenrod, to add to my collection.

Then home. It’s a milestone in the year, every year. And now it’s fall.