The Hamburg Fair is gearing up to provide families old-fashioned fun and entertainment again this year. The fair, arguably the biggest event that goes on in Lyme each year, starts Friday afternoon at the Grange Hall and Fairgrounds on Route 156 and continues through Saturday night and Sunday.
Traditional live animal exhibitions and competition include the pony pull on Friday night, horse pull on Saturday afternoon and evening and oxen pull all day Sunday. Each day features live music performances from classic rock to Celtic and old time fiddlers, plus hypnotist/comedian Jim Spinnato. The fair tradition continues with competition and awards for best baked goods, home-grown vegetables and flowers, photography, crafts and quilts.
“This whole fair is geared to give kids the old time family experience we had when we were kids,” said Ted Powell III, fair president.
Saturday features games for kids from 10 am to 12 noon, including pie eating and watermelon eating contests. There is no additional charge for kids up to age 12 to sign up; the eating contests will be broken into age groups. There also will be ring tosses, nail driving and similar games for younger kids, as well as pony rides, alpacas and small animals, face-painting, magic and a clown on stage.
“Every kid who enters will get a prize – you know how kids get at fairs,” Powell said.
Revolutionary War and 6th Connecticut Regiment re-enactors will be camping out, demonstrating campfire cooking, marching drills and blacksmithing. As always, there will be farm exhibits and antique tractors on display.
Last year’s fair brought in record-breaking crowds of almost 19,000, so fair organizers have expanded and continued some of the features this year, including the Imperial Show carnival rides.
There are at least two new rides at this year’s fair, Powell said. The Wiz is geared for teenagers.
“It goes in circles and keeps rising and all of a sudden it drops,” he said. There’s also a brand new scrambler ride that goes a lot faster than older models, too.
Another hit from last year is the all-day carnival bracelet, Powell said.
“We’re the only fair in the state that is running a $20 all day ride bracelet for each day of the fair,” he said. “It’s more economical for the parents.”
No down-home fair is complete without a slice of pie and a cup of coffee. The Lyme Grange #147 will be serving pie, donuts, breakfast sandwiches and beverages.
Fair parking is available at Reynolds Garage; proceeds benefit the local Boy Scouts, or at the First Congregational Church of Lyme, which benefits the church.
Fair hours are 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For last-minute information, contact hamburgfair@comcast.net.