Bridgewater Fair Returning August 15-17

BRIDGEWATER — The Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department and Bridgewater Fair Committee have presented a country fair for 56 years at the fairgrounds on Route 133. The 57th fair will be presented the weekend of Friday through Sunday, August 15-17.

Gates will be open on Friday from 4 to 11 pm, Saturday from 8 am to 11 pm, and Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm. Admission this year is $8 for adults ($16 for a three-day pass), $5 for senior citizens on Saturday and Sunday, and free ages 12 and under.

Ongoing all weekend will be a midway, vendors, refreshments, trampoline shows, pie eating contests (Saturday and Sunday), cake bingo, and barns and buildings filled with farm animals, arts and crafts, hobbies, and flower and vegetable exhibitions.

The annual Fireman’s Parade, which has had as many as 47 companies participating, will step off at 6:45 on Friday and wind its way right into the fairgrounds. Parade trophies will be awarded at 10 pm.

Saturday’s highlights will include sheep and poultry judging, junior dairy and beef shows, a junior poultry show, children’s pet parade, pedal tractor pull, border collie herding demonstrations, an antique tractor pull, and a pony pull.

On Sunday there will be junior showmanship, ox judging, sheep fitting and showing, a garden tractor pull, and more border collie herding demos. Premium books handed out at the entrance gates will include schedules for all events.

Food prepared by dozens of volunteers – firefighters, their families, and friends – is another reason so many people show up for the Bridgewater Fair. The 57th presentation will once again offer roast beef sandwiches, chicken, fried dough and corn on the cob, along with plenty of fair staples like pizza, grinders, hot dogs, ice cream, baked potatoes and breakfast for the early risers.

In 1955 the fair was cancelled by the state police due to flooding in western Connecticut. The year after the fair was cancelled, the Bridgewater Fair Raffle was begun as another way to raise funds for the fire department. Tickets are $5 each and this year’s grand prize is a 2008 Jeep Wrangler.

The other five prizes this year will be a 2007 Honda ATV, a pellet stone, a 2007 Honda scooter, an outdoor Kettler ping pong table and paddles, and a garden bench. Winners need not be present to win. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Bridgewater Village Store and Bridgewater Mobil, and will be sold all fair weekend.

Live music will be performed by Flashback, Chad Burdick, The K-Man Band, Big Shot, and Parrotbeach.

Finally, everyone planning to attend should note in advance that pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds.

For additional information call the fair office at 860-354-4730 or visit BridgewaterFair.com.