Piscataquis Valley Fair
Returns for the 128th year Aug. 27-30
DOVER-FOXCROFT — This year marks the 128th anniversary of the Piscataquis Valley Fair, which began in 1887. The 2015 fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 27 to Sunday, Aug. 30 at the fairgrounds located at 77 Fairview Avenue. The four days will feature exhibitions, rides, concerts and fun for all ages.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HORSING AROUND AT THE FAIR — Kim Desrosier of Dexter guides her horses Levi and Bud during the 3,200-pound pull as part of the 2013 Piscataquis Valley Fair in Dover-Foxcroft. This year’s fair, the 128th edition, takes place from Aug. 27-30 at the fairgrounds on Fairview Avenue.
The festivities begin on Thursday, Aug. 27 with the farm oxen weigh in at 9 a.m. and open flower judging at 10 a.m. At noon the fire department museum — located next to the police building, exhibition halls and Animal Land all open. The farm oxen twitch, scoot and pull also begin at noon and the midway rides open at 2 p.m. String Field Theory performs at both 2:30 and 5 p.m.
Frisbee toss behind the ice cream parlor starts at 3 p.m. with the pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor at 4 p.m. The first bingo session begins at 4 p.m. as well. At 5:30 p.m. a bicycle drawing will take place at the fair office.
Evening events for the first day of the fair will include milking parlor demonstrations at 6 p.m., figure eight mechanical truck competition at 6 p.m., He Man contest at 7:30 p.m., Tyler Healey taking to the stage at 8 p.m. and then fireworks at 9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 28 events will kick off with farm horse weigh in at 9 a.m. and then the youth dairy show at 11 a.m. The fire department museum, exhibition halls and Animal Land all open at noon, as does bingo. Dan Grady performs his “Marvelous Marionette Medley” at 12:30 p.m. on the hill.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MARVELOUS MARIONETTE MEDLEY — Dan Grady will once again be performing his Marvelous Marionette Medley throughout the Piscataquis Valley Fair.
Friday midway rides open at 2 p.m. and a relay race takes place behind the ice cream parlor at 3 p.m. The mad scientist show will be at 4 and 6 p.m. on the hill. A pedal tractor pull takes place at the milking parlor at 4:30 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. a bicycle drawing will be at the fair office.
At 6 p.m. will be a milking demonstration at the parlor and also at 6 p.m. will be the tuff truck competition at the track. The day concludes with AC/DC tribute act Back in Black performing on the stage at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Aug. 29 the horse pulling weigh in begins at 6 a.m. and later in the morning the jumper show starts at 8:30 a.m. Farm tractor pulls at the mechanical track kick off at 9 a.m. Opening at 10 a.m. is the antique auto display, exhibition halls, fire department museum, horse pulling, Animal Land, youth beef cattle show and cookie decorating on the hill.
New to this year’s Piscataquis Valley Fair is the Maine Maple Pageant for girls in kindergarten through high school, which starts at 10 a.m. on the stage.
The midway rides will open at 11 a.m. and the skillet throw begins at 11:30 a.m. At noon will be bingo and the mad scientist show on the hill — with another demonstration at 3 p.m.. In the tradition of Mark Twain, a frog jumping competition is slated for 1 p.m. as is a pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor. Dan Grady performs his Marvelous Marionette Medley on the hill at 2 p.m. and then at 6 p.m.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
An animal costume parade begins at 3 p.m. and at 4 p.m. a bicycle drawing will take place at the fair office. A cookie stacking contest will be on the hill at 4:30 p.m. with a milking demonstration at the parlor at 6 p.m. Also at 6 p.m. will be truck pulls at the mechanical track and wrist wrestling — sign-ups are 5:30 p.m. by the police building. Saturday concludes with Ragged Jack performing on the stage at 8 p.m.
The final day of the 2015 fair, Sunday, Aug. 30, has a horse weigh in at 6 a.m. and the game horse show at 9 a.m. Also at 9 a.m. are the garden tractor pulls at the mechanical track, followed by horse pulling at 9:30 a.m. as well as Dan Grady performing his Marvelous Marionette Medley on the hill. Grady performs again at 3 p.m.
The doodlebug draw begins at 10 a.m. at the mechanical track. The exhibition hall, fire department museum and Animal Land all open at 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon entrants for the pig scramble can sign up at the fair office. The pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor begins at 10:30 a.m. as does pie judging.
The midway rides open at 11 a.m. At 11:30 a.m. will be a bubblegum blowing contest and the chicken BBQ is served at the dining hall at 11:30 a.m. The day’s bingo session starts at noon and the pig scramble in the pulling arena begins at 1 p.m.
The 3 p.m. hour features the pedal tractor pull off at the milking parlor as well as the demolition derby. The final bicycle drawing takes place at 4 p.m. at the fair office before this year’s fair formally closes at 6 p.m.
For more information on the 2015 Piscataquis Valley Fair. please go to www.piscataquisvalleyfair.com or see the fair page on Facebook.
Observer file photo/Jeannette Hughes
THE PULL OF THE FAIR — Four teams of oxen are prepared for a pulling event at a past year’s fair.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TRACTOR PULL — At a distance of nearly 179 feet, Richie Potter won the 1,300-pound improved stock class during the 2013 Piscataquis Valley Fair.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BARRELS OF FUN — Horse riding contests take place throughout the annual Piscataquis Valley Fair in Dover-Foxcroft.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HOT YOUNG CHICK — A minutes-old chicken moves away from its shell after hatching at Animal Land at the Piscataquis Valley Fair.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BEEF IN COW FORM — The youth beef show enables young farmers to show off their cattle for the judges and spectators.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
OLD-FASHIONED FIRE EQUIPMENT — The Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department’s museum at the fairgrounds provides a glimpse into the apparatus used for battling blazes of the past.
Observer file photo/Jeannette Hughes
AROUND THE RIDES — A carousel provides some fun for the younger fair-goers.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
LAZY HORSE — A miniature horse rests while on display at Animal Land.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PEEK-A-MOO — Several cows look up while munching hay.
