From Oct. 4 – 14, the North Shore’s favorite seasonal attraction opened. For many, the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts signifies the beginning of the fall season. As you walk in, the smells of fresh apple crisp, pumpkins, turkey legs and hay fills the air.
The sound of screams flourish throughout the air as the faint mooing sounds of cows are heard from the nearby barns in the fair. Crowds of people tested their luck at the game booths, and children laughed with delight, taking in the kickoff to the fall season.
The Topsfield Fair is recognized as America’s oldest county fair tradition for all families, which dates back to its founding by the Essex County Agricultural Society in 1818. Since opening there have been new attractions and events added each year.
This year’s fair has featured a diverse range of attractions, competitions and entertainment. Highlights of the fair included appearances by the New England Rodeo, a live concert by upcoming country artists Maddie & Tae, a tractor pull contest, live pumpkin carving demonstrations from Paul Dever and a draft horse show and the Mrs. Essex County Pageant.
The most known event at the fair is the giant pumpkin competition, which has been an ongoing tradition since 1984.
This year marked the 40th Anniversary of the All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off.
Over the years, the pumpkins have broken many world records, and the fair is home to the first one ton pumpkin.
As reported from the Topsfield Fair, there were 20 pumpkins in this year’s competition. The winning pumpkin went to Steve Connolly of Sharon, MA which weighed 2,111 pounds. This was Connoly’s fourth time winning at the Topsfield Fair. For coming in first place he won $6,500 and bragging rights until next year’s competition.
Many people don’t just go to the fair to watch the outstanding pumpkin weigh off contest, but also to indulge in the delicious fall treats that are offered at the fair each year.
The fair also hosts over 300 vendors every year where mostly food is sold. Many fair favorites were on site at this year’s fair including my favorites: warm homemade apple pie with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon rolls, fried oreos, warm homemade apple and blueberry crisp, crunchy blooming onions and loaded baked potatoes.
The fair also included goods for attendees to buy including leather goods, jewelry, homemade honey, freshly grown vegetables, juicy sour pickles, pumpkins, toys, etc.
Other delicious options at the fair included funnel cakes, caramel apples, turkey legs and crunchy German fries.
In addition to all of the delicious mouth watering food, attendees have a variety of rides to choose from while being at the fair. There are family friendly rides such as the carousel and the Ferris Wheel while thrill seekers can test their courage on the Freakout, the Seven Seas, Zipper, Flying Bobs and many more thrilling rides.
One of the attractions that entertains everyone at the fair is the “Drown the Rude Clown” stand where many attendees throw a baseball at a target to hit and dunk the clown into the dunk tank. The crowds every year tend to hate the clown each year due to his rude comments and remarks, but everyone gets excited when the clown gets shut up by the dunk tank.
Many people also come out to the fair each year for the variety of different animals on display to see. The cow barn is always a big hit every year, where you get to pet them, feed them treats and even get to see a milking demonstration.
Also, there is a poultry barn, which is one of the many animal attractions that the fair is known for, such as for their award-winning geese, ducks, turkeys, swans, chickens and hatching chicks.
There are also many other areas at the fair to see animals, all the way from learning about bees, to seeing horses, donkeys and to even petting the soft, curly, large sheeps.
The Topsfield Fair will always be an attraction for everyone all over the world, and will continue to be a treasured native tradition in the North Shore of Massachusettts. The fair will be back next year from Oct. 3 – 13 to celebrate its 207th anniversary.
