Attendees enjoy the 2022 Blandford Fair.
Reminder Publishing file photo
BLANDFORD — This Labor Day weekend, plan to spend all or a part of it at the 155th Blandford Fair Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, hosted by the Union Agricultural & Horticulture Society, founded in 1867.
The fair has become an annual exhibition event, welcoming people of all ages with a wide range of New England country fair staples along with exhibitions unique to Blandford. Fair funding is provided, in part, by the Massachusetts Arts Council and the state Department of Agriculture.
Brenda Blood, who has served as secretary for 50 years and before that was running exhibits in the adult hall, said the Blandford Fair is family-oriented, “so there’s something for everyone.” She said there are cattle and sheep shows and oxen and horse draws, a goat show plus a two-day horse show.
Blood said one unique aspect to the Blandford Fair is its art show, featuring more than 100 artists. The 56th annual art show and sale features works in oil, watercolor, photography and scratchboard. There are daily demonstrations by artists, where fairgoers can join in and create a piece of art.
“There’s some beautiful art work in there, too,” said Blood. She said throughout the fair there are exhibits for kids and adults, where children can enter their flowers, what they’ve made and their home-cooked food.
The best part, according to Blood, is that it’s 100% volunteer-run, which has a lot to do with what she loves most about the Blandford Fair, and why she keeps returning.
“I love the people. It’s people that you only see maybe once a year, during the fair,” Blood said.
Highlights of the four-day event include the only truck pull event in Western Massachusetts over Labor Day weekend, by the Massachusetts Truck and Tractor Pullers Association. The truck pulls, which begin on Friday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m., feature six weight classes.
At 7 p.m. on Friday on the Center Stage, Buchanon Rock n Roll will be jamming while patrons can grab a brew from the Skyline Beer Company and relax in the Beer Garden.
Saturday, Aug. 31, at 8 a.m., the Blandford Fair Horse Show will be showing off their beautiful four-legged creatures. This year, the theme is team spirit, and participants are encouraged to wear oranges and purples on riders and horses, to show support for a fair that has a long history and so many memories.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday is the Blandford Fair Demolition Derby, with 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder classes. Entry for drivers is $40 per vehicle, with rules posted at www.theblandfordfair.com/demolition-derby. Any questions can be answered by David Chaffee at Chaffee96@gmail.com.
The Western Mass. Tractor Pullers Association will host a tractor pull on Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Blandford fairgrounds. Weigh-in starts at 8 a.m., with the pull starting at 9 a.m. All club safety rules will apply. This is a stone boat pull. Competitor fees are $10 per class, per tractor, to pull enhanced and stock tractors; all competitors must also have an active membership in the club, which costs $30. For rules and details, visit www.westernmasstractorpullers.com.
Also on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the Silver Circus will perform on the Center Stage with magic and juggling, and on Monday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m., Sara the Fiddler will perform on the Center Stage with toe-tapping tunes. For a complete list of events, visit www.theblandfordfair.com or follow www.facebook.com/blandfordfair.
