A photo from the 2024 Blandford Fair.
Reminder Publishing file photo
BLANDFORD — There will be no better place to be on Labor Day weekend than the 156th edition of the Blandford Fair as it celebrates the agricultural heritage of New England with a schedule of events over three and a half days of horse, sheep, cattle and art shows, tractor and oxen pulls, games, entertainment, music, fabulous food and much more.
“We’re really looking forward to this year’s fair,” said Matt Riley, the president of the Blandford Fair Preservation Association. “We’ve worked hard to provide an event that will be fun for the whole family. There is something for everyone to enjoy.”
One of the fair’s biggest draws over the last few years has been the demolition derby on Saturday, but this year a new wrinkle has been added; an enduro for the derby cars and a second derby on Sunday featuring minivans.
“We’re hoping a few soccer moms will have some fun on Sunday,” Riley said laughing.
For those unfamiliar with an enduro, Riley explained the demolition derby cars will race each other before they start crashing into each other minutes later.
There are three classes of cars, 4-, 6- and 8-cylinders for Saturday’s derby and only the minivans will compete on Sunday. Entry for drivers is $40 per vehicle. Rules are posted at theblandfordfair.com/demolition-derby.
Both events start at 6 p.m.
Another highlight of the weekend is the only truck pull event in Western Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Truck and Tractor Pullers Association. The truck pulls, which begin on Friday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m., feature six weight classes.
There will also be plenty of shows at the center stage, which is new this year.
“Our bands and shows will perform in our new entertainment pavilion,” Riley said, thanking the state’s Department of Agriculture for a grant and financial help from many of the fair’s business sponsors.
Performing at the pavilion, starting Friday night, will be Stomp n Boots, followed by California Jack.
On Saturday, Stomp n Boots kicks off a full day of entertainment in the pavilion at 1:30 p.m., followed by Southern Rain at 4 p.m., and Jesse Liam at 7 p.m.
The shows continue Sunday with The Silver Circus Show at 11 a.m., with Aqua Net starting at 1 p.m., followed by Woodford Way at 4 p.m. and Beyond Purple starting at 6:30 p.m.
On Monday, local favorite Sara the Fiddler starts at 11 a.m., followed by Woodford Way at 1:30 p.m.
Another new feature this year will be the inaugural Shriner’s Motorcycle Ride, Riley said.
For $25, motorcyclists will line up at Skyline Brewery, which will have a beer garden at the fair, and ride to Blandford. Those who ride will get into the fair free. The money raised will be donated to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Riley said.
Riley said there will be a new feature for the annual horse show. The fair will have a Versatility Horse Challenge that will have horses demonstrating their practical uses on ranches and farms.
The 56th annual art show and sale will feature works in oil, watercolor, photography and scratchboard and there will be daily demonstrations by artists, where fairgoers can join in and create a piece of art.
One of the fun events of the fair that everyone can participate in is the corn husking contest in the gazebo. It starts at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday and Sunday and the fastest time wins.
For a demonstration of strength, the Hale Bale Toss will start at 12:30 p.m., Saturday. The longest throw will be crowned with the fair’s championship.
Each day, families can play giant games like Jenga, Connect Four, and more.
Also, there will be a barnyard petting zoo open all day.
The dining hall opens on Saturday and Sunday at noon and will be serving chicken barbeque, potato salad, corn on the cob, provided by North Elm Butcher Block.
The fair is hosted by the Union Agricultural & Horticulture Society, which was founded in 1867. It built the exhibition hall still in use on the fairground in 1868.
For a complete list of events, visit theblandfordfair.com or follow facebook.com/blandfordfair.
This year’s sponsors for the fair are: Hampden County Improvement League, Westfield Bank, Tonlino Crushed Stone, Maple Corner Farm, Simscroft-Echo Farms Inc., Blandford Fair Preservation Association, Inc., Liberty Tree Service, Cooper Excavation Inc., Craige Tighe Construction, Double M and T Excavation Inc., the Army National Guard, J-Team Portable Sawmill and Fairview Containers Inc.
