Topsfield Fair

Last updated
Topsfield County Fair
Topsfield Fair Sign.jpg
Genre County fair
Dates10 days

scheduled to conclude every year on the Monday of Columbus Day

29 September - 09 October 2023

Contents

Location(s)Topsfield, Massachusetts
Years active1818–Present (excluding 1918, 1943-45, 2020)
Attendance450,000–500,000
Website topsfieldfair.org

The Topsfield Fair is an annual county fair located in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The Topsfield Fair is known as America's Oldest County Fair. Started in 1818 by the Essex County Agricultural Society, the Topsfield Fair was originally a one-day cattle show. [1] The goal of the society was to showcase agriculture in order to educate the public as well as provide somewhere for farmers to exchange ideas and methods. The fair draws between 450,000 and 500,000 people over its 10-day event period. [2] It is home to a large midway, an arena with ongoing events throughout the year, as well as many agricultural exhibitions.

History

The Topsfield Fair began in February 1818 [3] with the founding of the Essex Agricultural Society headed by Timothy Pickering. [1] In 1820, the society held its first event, a cattle show. The intent was to have an arena in which local farmers could engage in friendly competition as well as exchange ideas and methods about agriculture. Early events at these shows included cattle shows, oxen pulls, and plowing matches. [1] From the years of 1820 to 1895 the fair was held in a variety of locations across Essex County. In 1895, the Fair began a 15-year residence in Peabody when it bought a 50-acre plot. In 1910, the Fair moved to its current location in Topsfield, a 150-acre experimental farm that had been given to the society in 1856. [1] Most of the agricultural and exhibition barns that are a part of the present day Topsfield Fair were erected in between 1921 and 1925. [1] In its 204-year history, the fair has been cancelled thrice: 1918 (Spanish flu), 1943–1945 (World War II), and 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic).[ citation needed ]

Significant Events in Fair History [1] [3]
YearEvent
1818Essex Agricultural Society founded
1820First cattle show
1856Treadwell Farm (site of current fair) donated to the Agricultural Society
1893First multi-day fair held in Haverhill
1895Peabody becomes the site for the fair
1910Fair permanently moved to Topsfield
1918Fair cancelled due to Spanish flu pandemic
1921–1925Most current exhibition halls built
1938Fair expands to 5 days
1943–1945Fair suspended due to World War II
1950Fiesta Shows contracted to bring a midway to the fair
1979First opening-day parade held
2018Essex Agricultural Society Bicentennial
2020Fair not held (COVID-19 pandemic)

Present-day fair

Today the fair runs 10 days ending every year on the Monday of Columbus Day. Admission ranges from $10–20, depending on pre-sale and weekend admission. There are also discounts available for children, military members, and senior citizens. [4] [5] Although the fair runs 10 days from Saturday to Monday, the Friday before the fair has typically been known as Topsfield Night. Traditionally this was a night for Topsfield Residents and friends, however in recent years it has been opened to the general public although Topsfield residents still get free admission.

The official opening of the fair occurs each year with the annual parade and opening ceremony. The parade is typically marshaled by local politicians, community members, and other local figures. Some notable marshals/opening ceremony attendees have included Johnny Bucyk [5] who marshaled the 200th anniversary parade, Governor Charlie Baker, [6] and Gisele Bündchen. [7] The parade itself includes performance by local middle and high school bands including the Proctor School Elementary School Band, the Masconomet Regional High School Band, and the Danvers High School Band. The parade also features local police and fire departments, local boy and girl scout troops, and floats from local companies.

Midway

Although not part of the original fair, the midway has become one of the major attractions of the Topsfield Fair. The midway has been a major part of the fair since 1950 when Fiesta Shows was contracted to bring rides and entertainment to the fair. [8] Major attractions include carnival rides aimed towards all ages, carnival games, and food. The rides that are used at the fair typically are broken up into four sections by Fiesta Shows - Kid Rides, Family Rides, Major Rides, and Spectacular Rides and aim to cater to people of all ages. Rides typically cost between 3–5 tickets depending on the size and thrill of the ride which can be purchased from Fiesta Shows. In addition the Fair sells pre-sale tickets at discounted rates. [9] Carnival games at the fair are typically "pay until you win" games such as darts, ring toss, and duck pond, or competition type games such as the water gun game.

Food at the fair is provided both by Fiesta Shows as well as local retailers and community members. Fiesta Shows runs a variety of traditional fair food stands including a hot dog and hamburger, fried dough stands, french fry stands, sausage stands, and a fried candy stand. In addition to the food provided by Fiesta shows local restaurants and communities provide a variety of more tradition New England fall food. One booth in particular run by the Congregation Church of Topsfield has been serving turkey dinners since before 1920. [10] In 2015 the church served over 2,500 dinners raising funds for charity. Other local food includes Whoopie pies by the Topsfield Bakeshop, a baked potato booth, and boy scout run food stands. Overall there are nearly 300 vendors selling food and other items at the fair. [11]

A Rabbit pictured at the Rabbits and Cavies Barn Fair Bunny.jpg
A Rabbit pictured at the Rabbits and Cavies Barn

Exhibitions

The exhibition halls are central to the design of the fair. The halls are a way for local farmers and residents to show off their animals and produce. There are also several arts and crafts barns where local professional and armature artist and photographers can display pieces for both competition and sale. Exhibitions include: [12]

In addition to the exhibition halls there is a central arena which is used for major events throughout the week of the fair. At a typical fair the area host the great pumpkin weigh off, several concerts by local and national artists, horse shows, monster truck shows, and demolition derbies. Notable past performers include: [14] The Charlie Daniels Band; Sara Evans; Martina McBride; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Red Guard.

Great Pumpkin Weigh Off

The World Record setting pumpkin from 2007. Grown by Joe Jutras it weighed in at 1689 pounds. 2007 pumpkin Topsfield Massachusetts USA 1573226704.jpg
The World Record setting pumpkin from 2007. Grown by Joe Jutras it weighed in at 1689 pounds.

One of the most well known competitions at the fair is the Great Pumpkin Weigh Off. Each year the pumpkin weigh off takes place of the first day of the fair in the arena. [15] The weigh off began in 1984 with the winning pumpkin weighing 433 pounds. Since then, pumpkins have grown to weigh over 2,000 lb with the current record pumpkin weighing in at 2,114 lb. [16] Over the years, the Topsfield Fair has been home to several world record pumpkins. In 2012, the first pumpkin to break the one-ton barrier was weighed at the Fair. After the weigh off the winning pumpkin is displayed in a centerpiece at the Fruits and Vegetable barn.

Notable Pumpkins
YearGardenerPumpkin Weight [17] Reason
2019Alex Noel2294.5lbHeaviest pumpkin of the 2019 fair "Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off" [18]
2018Ron Wallace2114lbCurrent Topsfield Fair Champion [16]
2012Ron Wallace2009lbWorld First One-Ton Pumpkin [19]
2007Joe Jutras1689lbFormer World Record Pumpkin [20]
2006Ron Wallace1502lbFormer World Record Pumpkin [20] [21]
2002Charlie Houghton1337lbFormer World Record Pumpkin – Guinness World Record [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topsfield, Massachusetts</span> Town in Massachusetts, United States

Topsfield is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,569 at the 2020 census. Topsfield is located in the North Shore region of Massachusetts. Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Topsfield.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston or abbreviated HLSR, is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003, with the exception of 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was previously held in the Astrodome. It is considered to be the city's "signature event", much like New Orleans's Mardi Gras, Dallas's Texas State Fair, San Diego's Comic-Con and New York City's New Year's Eve at Times Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National Exhibition</span> Annual event held in Toronto

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual fair that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Labour Day, the first Monday in September. With approximately 1.6 million visitors each year, the CNE is Canada's largest annual community event and one of the top fairs in North America. The fair is a combination of agricultural exhibits and events, carnival rides and entertainment, live music, food and special events. Special events include the Warriors' Day Parade, the Labour Day Parade and the Canadian International Air Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State Fair</span> Annual event in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, U.S.

The Minnesota State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Also known by its slogan, "The Great Minnesota Get-Together", it is the largest state fair in the United States by average daily attendance and the second-largest state fair in the United States by total attendance, trailing only the State Fair of Texas, which generally runs twice as long as the Minnesota State Fair. The state fairgrounds, adjacent the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, are in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, midway between the state's capital city of Saint Paul and the adjacent city of Roseville, near the Como Park and Saint Anthony Park neighborhoods of Saint Paul. Residents of the state and region come to the fair to be entertained, exhibit their best livestock, show off their abilities in a variety of fields including art and cooking, learn about new products and services, and eat many different types of food—often on a stick. The Minnesota State Fair was named the best state fair in the United States in 2015 by readers of USA Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State Fair</span> American state fair

The North Carolina State Fair is an American state fair and agricultural exposition held annually in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1853, the fair is organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It attracts around a million visitors over eleven days in mid-October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midway (fair)</span>

A midway at a fair is the location where carnival games, amusement rides, entertainment, dime stores, themed events, exhibitions and trade shows, pleasure gardens, water parks and food booths cluster. The midway is located between the entrance and the big top of a circus; thus, a carnival is essentially a travelling midway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Fair</span> 13-day showcase of agriculture and technology

The New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, is a 13-day showcase of agriculture, entertainment, education, and technology. With midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts, it has become New York's largest annual event and an end-of-summer tradition for hundreds of thousands of families from all corners of the state. The first fair took place in Syracuse in 1841, and took permanent residence there in 1890. It is the oldest and one of the largest state fairs in the United States, with over one million visitors annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lane County Fair</span>

Lane County Fair is a fair that is held in the middle of the summer every year, at Eugene, Oregon, and it features cuisine, entertainment, and music. Excellent family entertainment, cuisine, and artwork can be found at the Lane County Fair. A Lane County Agricultural Society was established in 1858, and on October 9, it hosted its inaugural show, which was still not regarded as fair. In 1860, a state agricultural association was established, and it was planned to host a state fair. From October 3 to October 4, 1860, a state fair was conducted close to Oregon City. On October 9 and 10, 1861, there was another fair. Finally, the inaugural "Lane County Fair" was held for three days on September 25, 1884. Excellent family entertainment is available at the Lane County Fair, including performances, rides, games, and fun. Examine the arts and crafts, agricultural, and animal exhibits in the exhibition hall. Enjoy the fair classics like cotton candy, elephant ears, BBQ, and ice cream from your favorite food vendors. There will be a big Ferris wheel at the fair that will allow you to see Eugene and the fairgrounds from above. horses, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry will be presented and evaluated for both adult and juvenile competition.

The Spencerville Fair, also known as "The Biggest-Little Fair in Eastern Ontario" is an annual celebration of harvest which unites the surrounding community of Spencerville, Ontario every second weekend in September. The first fair was held in December 1855 on the south side of the South Nation River. Today, the fair is held at the fair grounds in the middle of the village. These grounds contain a grandstand, race track, various show barns and a multimillion-dollar community building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa State Fair</span> Annual fair in Iowa, US

The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa in August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circleville Pumpkin Show</span> Annual festival in Ohio, U.S.

The Circleville Pumpkin Show is an annual show held in Circleville, Ohio, about 30 miles (48 km) south of the state capital of Columbus. The festival, which is held to celebrate local agriculture, is headed up by the Circleville Pumpkin Show Corporation. Considered to be the biggest festival in the United States dedicated to the pumpkin, it is billed as The Greatest Free Show On Earth. Attendance has topped 400,000 for the four-day event, which is free to enter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheyenne Frontier Days</span> Annual festival in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne Frontier Days is an outdoor rodeo and western celebration in the United States, held annually since 1897 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It bills itself as the "World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration." The event, claimed to be one of the largest of its kind in the world, draws nearly 200,000 annually. Lodging fills up quickly during the peak tourist season throughout southern and eastern Wyoming, into northern Colorado and western Nebraska. The celebration is held during the ten days centered about the last full week of July. In 2008, Cheyenne Frontier Days was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traveling carnival</span> Moveable amusement park

A traveling carnival, usually simply called a carnival, travelling funfair or travelling show, is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skill, thrill acts, and animal acts. A traveling carnival is not set up at a permanent location, like an amusement park or funfair, but is moved from place to place. Its roots are similar to the 19th century circus with both being fitted-up in open fields near or in town and moving to a new location after a period of time. In fact, many carnivals have circuses while others have a clown aesthetic in their decor. Unlike traditional Carnival celebrations, the North American traveling carnival is not tied to a religious observance.

The Sioux Empire Fair is a fair held annually each summer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the W. H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Attendance at the 2014 fair was 280,985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hants County Exhibition</span> Canadian annual agricultural fair

The Hants County Exhibition is an annual fall fair held in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It is known for being the oldest continuously run agricultural fair in North America. It was first held on the grounds of Fort Edward beginning in 1765 and has been running continuously since 1815.The fair has been held at the nearby Hants Exhibition Arena and exhibition grounds since the land was purchased in 1949. September 2015 marked the 250th anniversary of the Hants County Exhibition. Five years later, the fair went virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

The Florida State Fair is held annually at the Florida State Fairgrounds in East Lake-Orient Park, Florida. The official state fair of Florida, it includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, rides and shows. It is a chance for the state to showcase its agricultural industry. The Fair also offers competitions and food oddities such as chocolate covered bacon & Buffalo chicken chimichanga. The annual event is usually held in February and typically lasts for 11 days. It is the first state fair to be held in the United States each calendar year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Fair</span> Annual state fair in Sacramento, California

The California State Fair (CSF) is the annual state fair for the state of California. The fair is held at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. The Fair is a 17-day event showcasing California's industries, agriculture, and diversity of people. The CSF features blue-ribbon animal displays, culinary delights and competitions, live music concerts, a carnival, fireworks, and other family fun. In 2018, officials reported daily attendance drew between 20,000 and 60,000 people per day and about $8.5 million of food and beverage expenditures. The fair is policed by the California Exposition and State Fair Police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanislaus County Fair</span>

The Stanislaus County Fair, located in Turlock, California, opens every year in mid-July. It is the largest event in Stanislaus County. For 10 days, more than 220,000 visitors attend the 72-acre (290,000 m2) fairgrounds. There are nightly celebrity concerts, performances on five stages, and over 30 food concessionaires. The fair shows over 30,000 local talent exhibits, over 1,750 animals, and more than 35 carnival rides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiesta Shows</span> Amusement park traveling throughout the New England region of the U.S.

Fiesta Shows is a traveling carnival that entertains and visits over 60 communities throughout the New England region. It is New England's largest carnival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Canadian National Exhibition</span> History of Canadian annual fair

The Canadian National Exhibition is an annual fair held at the end of August in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1879 as a modest industrial exhibition and has expanded to an annual fair that attracts over one and a half million persons during its two-and-a-half week run.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 H., Fletcher, David (2003). Topsfield Fair : America's oldest. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. pp. 7, 8, 128. ISBN   0738512079. OCLC   52982853.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Bray, Bethany. "Crowds estimated at 450,000 for Topsfield Fair". Salem News. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  3. 1 2 "Fair History | Topsfield Fair". topsfieldfair.org. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  4. "Admission | Topsfield Fair". topsfieldfair.org. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  5. 1 2 "The Topsfield Fair Celebrates 200th Anniversary with Grand Parade - Northshore Magazine". www.nshoremag.com. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  6. "Topsfield Fair prepares new attractions and old favorites for its 200th anniversary - Itemlive". Itemlive. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  7. "Gisele and kids spend a day at the fair - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  8. "Fiesta Shows - New England's Largest Carnival - Fairs, Festivals, Rides". Fiesta Shows. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  9. "Ticket Purchase Locations | Topsfield Fair". topsfieldfair.org. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  10. Greenstein, Linda. "Tri-town churches serve up great food at Topsfield Fair". The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  11. "Concessions and Vendors | Topsfield Fair". topsfieldfair.org. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  12. "Fair Map | Topsfield Fair". topsfieldfair.org. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  13. "ECBA: Essex County Bee Assoc". www.essexcountybeekeepers.org. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  14. "Top 10 Things to Do at the Topsfield Fair - Northshore Magazine". www.nshoremag.com. October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  15. "It takes a village to raise a giant pumpkin - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  16. 1 2 Bode, Kelsey (2018-09-28). "Rhode Island man smashes Topsfield Fair pumpkin record". Salem News. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  17. "Giant Pumpkin - Topsfield Fair Timeline". Topsfield Fair Timeline. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  18. "Photos: Photo Gallery: Seen on Scene at the Topsfield Fair". Wicked Local Topsfield. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  19. Forman, ETHAN FORMAN. "2,075-pound pumpkin smashes record at Topsfield Fair". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  20. 1 2 GELBWASSER, MICHAEL. "Don and the giant pumpkins". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  21. Raver, Anne. "In the Pumpkin Patch, an Orange Thumb" . Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  22. "Charles L. Houghton". The Boston Globe - Obituaries. August 8, 2003. Retrieved October 24, 2018.