Agricultural Fairs
Digital Commonwealth
From June to October, somewhere in Maine there’s an agricultural fair happening where kids can scream on midway rides, young and old can indulge in cotton candy and fried dough, and neighbors compete for the best baked pies, show off their livestock, and cheer on their favorite horses in harness races.
Maine’s agricultural fair tradition is a long one. In 2026, Skowhegan’s fair will mark its 208th anniversary, making it the nation’s oldest consecutively running agricultural fair. The fairs began as a way for farmers to learn about the latest agricultural advancements and share knowledge. Over the years, they have done far more than introduce new crop varieties and the latest farming equipment. From the Fryeburg Fair, the state’s largest, to the Blue Hill Fair that helped inspire E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web to the Cumberland Fair that signals the winding down of fair season, Maine’s agricultural fairs have become annual traditions where memories are made and rural life is celebrated.
Author: Stephanie Bouchard
