Labor Day Weekend Will Mark 100th Goshen Fair

GOSHEN — When planning the remainder of your summer schedule, Goshen Fair organizers are hoping that many families in and around Newtown will include a visit to the northwest corner of the state over Labor Day weekend.

The Goshen Agricultural Society will present its 100th annual fair Saturday through Monday, September 1–3. The first Goshen Fair dates back to September 5, 1910. The fair has been held each year since with the exception of 1942 and 1943, during World War II, and can trace its origins to the Labor Day horse races on a stretch of road now known as Route 63 beside the fairgrounds.

The 2012 event will offer all of the usual country fair elements that have for years made it a locally famous destination — farm animals of all kinds, vegetables, bakery, crafts, photography displays, entertainment, amusement games, rides and tasty midway food — but this year the Goshen Fair will also have a wide variety of fun, down-home contests to mark its 100th edition.

There will be hay bale tossing for youth through seniors, a nail driving contest for the kids, a pie eating contest, a skillet throw for the ladies, an adult spelling bee, and on Saturday, The Great Fair Dare, which will have teams of two (one must be an adult) running a scavenger hunt around the fairgrounds.

Fair hours are Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 10 pm; and Monday, 8 am to 6 pm. There will be fireworks on Saturday at 9 pm, and a Monster Truck Show on Sunday evening.

Fair admission is $8 for adults, with ages 12 and under admitted for free. Senior citizens may visit the fair on Saturday only for just $5. A discount coupon for Monday admission (all ages) is available online.

For more information, visit GoshenFair.org, find Friends of the Goshen Fair on Facebook, or call 860-491-3655.

Attendees are asked to leave their dogs and other pets at home (or at least off the fairgrounds).