The Blandford Fair is a true small town country fair, held each year on the three days of Labor Day…read moreweekend. It's been a part of my childhood, my youth, and my adult life, and I hope it will be for many years to come.
In the interests of full disclosure, although I don't work for the Fair, I have plenty of relatives who volunteer there. In fact, I've been told that it's really a family reunion cleverly disguised as a country fair... That's not quite accurate, but I must confess that I'd just closed the car door today when one of my aunts called my name.
Blandford is a small town (in population), and it's a nice compact fairground. The two short midways offer an assortment of games and foodstuffs, with relatively little overlap between vendors, but plenty of variety. Fresh lemonade is here; burgers are here; fries are here. In addition to the long-time fair staples of fried dough and soft-serve ice cream, other cuisines have appeared in recent years. The fair's own kitchens produce some amazing meals as well. I tend to favor the booths of the local organizations - the Legion, the Boys Scouts, the Fire Department - but certainly other vendors get my business each year as well.
The horse show is a favorite, as well as the pulling contests for teams of horses, oxen, or ponies. Go on the right day and you'll see tractor pulls, and even a demolition derby. In the exhibit halls, local farmers and gardeners still submit their best produce for judging, while the photography contest has grown each year in contestants and in quality.
There are cows and chickens to see, pony rides, and craft vendors. The midway rides will make you wish you hadn't eaten quite so much, but you'll be ready to eat again when the scent of frying wafts past. Today I spent quite a bit of time enjoying the fiddle contest, which included some amazing musicians.
Set atop a mountain ridge in western Massachusetts, it's a beautiful spot for a relaxing day. Check it out.
