Andy Freniere, with daughter Kinley, sets up grandstands for the Westfield Fair on Aug. 16, 2025.
Reminder Publishing file photo
WESTFIELD — Volunteers have been busy preparing for the 98th Westfield Fair on Friday, Aug. 21, from 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 23, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the fairgrounds on 137 Russellville Road.
General admission is $15, which includes parking; admission for seniors is $12; and children under 12 can attend for free. Admission is cash only.
Highlighted events, included in the price of admission, are the Mass. Truck and Tractor Pullers truck pulls on Friday at 6:15 p.m.; the Woodburger Demo Derby, returning for the first time in four years on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.; and Cruisin’ with Bruce Marshall Car Show on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also on Sunday is NELMRA Lawn Mower Racing from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Andrew Freniere of the Westfield Fair Association said the special events help bring people to the fair, and admission fees help pay the premiums for many of the judged exhibits and the sheep and cattle shows, which are at the heart of the agricultural fair.
Freniere said that, like the Littleville and Blandford fairs, the Westfield Fair is 100% volunteer-run. Many of the people who get involved choose to be there because they grew up on a farm or had friends or family who had farms. Others are local construction workers, office workers and people from all over.
“We’ve been doing a lot of renovations around the fair and a lot of upkeep,” Freniere said. “We’re building a new cow barn on a grant from the state,” he said, referring to a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources agriculture infrastructure grant of up to $100,000.
All of the volunteers have the same mission, and it all boils down to agriculture, Freniere said. “Our common goal is the promotion of agriculture and education around it. It’s not just on our mission statement; it’s something that we really believe in.”
Towards that goal, this year the association put together The Westfield Fair Discovery Trail on Saturday from 2-6 p.m. Participants may pick up a map, available at the gate or inside, which guides families on a hands-on journey through agriculture via seven interactive stations of free fair fun. Participants get a passport and collect a stamp at each step to complete the trail. “We’re trying to make it easy for parents,” Freniere said.
Activities on the trail include a dairy demonstration to watch modern milking in action and learn about cow care, nutrition, breeds and the journey from the cow to you; a bouquet station to create your own bouquet to take home; a pia pickling station to learn about old-fashioned preserving methods, make a pickling spice blend to take home, and try two brines; and an herb-mixing station to mix your own herb blend for different cuisines and discover how herbs add flavor and health.
A plant station will be available for children looking to plant a sunflower and watch it grow. The station allows children to decorate their cup and own ornament and dig up worms.
Also on the trail, families can go behind the scenes at the Judging Hall and learn how fair exhibits are judged and why every detail matters. The trail ends with fun farm-themed face painting for children of all ages.
Other features at the fair this year include the Tin Bridge Craft Beer Garden for three days. Freniere said that Tin Bridge will have an agricultural aspect at its station, highlighting local hop growers.
There will be live music by the Atlantic Railroad Company on Friday, and the Story Tellers and the Pitoniak Brothers Band on Saturday. Also on Saturday will be Line Dancing with Stompin’ Boots at 4 p.m.
The Midway concessions and rides, vendors, exhibits, craft barn, petting zoo and Farm Museum open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A complete list of events and times is available at thewestfieldfair.com.
