by Lex Thomas
For some, the end of summer is a reminder of back to work and school, and the rapid approach of fall and winter, falling leaves, ice and snow. On a happier note, it’s a reminder that the Sterling Fair is just around the corner. This year’s fair takes place September 9 to 11, but planning and preparation for one of the town’s most popular annual events, began months ago, a mere four weeks after last year’s fair closed.
According to Fair Committee Co-Chair Doug Downey, this year’s event will feature all the traditional favorites, but with a few new and expanded activities as well.
“We’re super excited to be featuring garden tractor drag races on Friday night [September 9],” he says. “People are really excited about it, too. We’re sure it’s going to be a great event.” The horse pull, oxen pull, and farm tractor pull are also popular events that will take place throughout the weekend.
The frog jump contest, always a fun-filled event, is described as BYOF, or Bring Your Own Frog. “We do have spare frogs, in case anyone has trouble finding one,” says Downey. He assures the public that frogs “are released back into the community after the contest. No frogs are hurt during this top athletic event.”
And for anyone seeking a new and innovative use for pots and pans, there’s a women’s skillet tossing contest, which grows bigger each year. “Last year we had somewhere between 60 and 70 women participating,” says Downey. “We hear that a lot of people are practicing, so we think this might be huge.” He adds that husband and partners of participants are volunteering as targets.
Fireworks, concerts, food trucks, midway rides, contests, and a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Chocksett Club on Saturday and Sunday mornings, will all be back, as well as exhibit halls, livestock, and baking, flower, produce and photography contests.
Downey laughs and quips frequently while talking about the fair, but when it comes to the volunteers and community supporters, he’s serious and grateful. “We all do this because we love it. Every single person is a volunteer,” he says. “Not one person gets paid. A lot of people put in a lot of hours and work, and we’re always looking for more volunteers.”
The Sterling Fair is held at the Sterling Airport on Greenland Road. Set-up takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the event, and the tear-down happens entirely on Sunday night, after closing time. Boy Scouts help with set-up, and Y.A.H.O.O. helps with tear-down, but Downey encourages others to get involved, too.
“We need people to do everything from directing traffic, to setting up tents, to trash pickup. And we have spaces on the Fair Committee, too, for anyone interested in getting involved in the planning process.”
Downey also feels great appreciation for the Ciborowski family that owns the land, and James Simpson Jr. and James Simpson Sr., who own the airport. “Jim shuts things down for us for a week,” he says. “He’s incredibly helpful and generous. The fair literally couldn’t happen without those wonderful people.”
Downey is also proud that the Sterling Fair, which hosts thousands of guests every year, remains one of the only free fairs in the country, and the only free fair of its size in New England, and he wants to do whatever he can to keep it that way.
“Admission is free, parking is free,” he says. “We have buttons available and we ask people to make a donation for a button. It’s what keeps us going.”
For more information, hours, directions, and a schedule of events, visit The Sterling Fair Facebook page, or sterlingfair.org.