BELCHERTOWN — The 166th annual Belchertown Fair will “shake, rattle and roll” through the town this weekend with a long lineup of fair fun.
“We started as an agricultural fair, and we’re trying to maintain that, but we’re really a fair that celebrates the community,” said Cindy Brown, vendor coordinator for the fair. “This is the homecoming. People will plan their weddings around it [and] they plan class reunions around it.”
From Friday to Sunday, the Town Common will transform into a fairground complete with rides, animal shows and an exhibit hall packed with winning entries. The fair draws an estimated 36,000 to 38,000 people each year. It’s one of the few fairs in the Pioneer Valley that people could attend and “never spend a dime,” Brown said.
This year’s theme, “shake, cattle and roll,” riffs of the 1950s swing song. Last year’s theme “Barn in the USA” brough out out locals dressed as Bruce Springsteen. Brown said volunteers embraced this year’s theme by filling the exhibit hall with cartoon cows dancing around winning produce, baked goods, crafts and art pieces. The winners of the 164 categories receive a cash prize, a blue ribbon and bragging rights.
The exhibit hall is not the only place to find this year’s best in show. Saturday’s rabbit show will display the best bunnies of Belchertown. On Sunday, chicken and roosters will gawk and squawk into people’s hearts at the poultry show, which will culminate in a rooster crowing contest. Families who wish to touch animals can visit the petting zoo anytime during the fair.
Fan favorites like the horse pull and oxen draw, hay bale and giant pumpkin weigh-in will return to the pulling ring this year, but a new event will also step into the ring.
“One of the things that happened across all fairgrounds is that the big horse pulls are dwindling. It’s getting harder and more expensive to upkeep the horses,” Brown said. “But there’s growing trend of little horses that are pulling. So in between our two big classes, we will have a little horse pull.”
The mini horse pull features students in the 4-H agricultural program. The pulling competition will take place on around 2 p.m. on Saturday following the first large horse pull.
In the spirit of youth, the Belchertown Fair offers children and teenagers opportunities to compete and play in their own events. Children rule the pulling ring on Friday Night at Kid’s Night Out. Kids show off their strength in the pedal tractor pull and youth hay bale toss. Even the newest members of the family can join in the fun in a Baby Contest to compete for prettiest eyes, best outfit or even youngest.
However, the family-friendly fun is not exclusive to children. The frog jumping contest is open to anyone who can provide their own frog. Couples can leave the kids at home for Guys and Girls Night Out to watch the hay bale toss. Residents will learn a new skill at one of the many workshops at the exhibit hall, like cake baking or mandala painting.
To kick off Saturday, over 60 groups will march from South Main Street to the corner of routes 202 and 33 in this year’s parade. Participants and onlookers come in theme-inspired attire. Brown also said that this year, a stage coach or funeral coach made in Belchertown in the 1800s will ride alongside school bands, municipal vehicles and local organizations.
While a majority of the events are free to attend, Midway rides, games and food provided by Fanelli Amusements require a fee. Ride wristbands for unlimited rides are $35 each. Prices for food and games vary. Attendees can also shop at booths featuring local businesses, like Cold Spring Soapery or Tamboro Knits.
The Belchertown Fair, Brown said, is the biggest fundraiser for most nonprofits in town. Youth organizations or high school sports teams often run the various parking lots for visiting families. In between food booths and local craftspeople, organizations like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, Harmony Acres Dog Training, Stingrays Swim Team and Mass Central Rail Trail set up booths to advertise their services and projects in town.
In true community fashion, the fair is almost entirely volunteer run. Brown said that the UMass baseball team helped the fair committee set up three tents on Sept. 14, and then a local Boy Scout troop and 4-H students set up tents the following day. Community members run the events, provide the entertainment with local bands and fundraise throughout the year.
“People who move out here from the city areas, they hear us talk about the fair, and they look at us like we have rocks on our heads,” Brown said. “But then they go and they say, ‘I have never gone to anything like that.’ Our goal is family. Our goal is fun.”
