Animals, Food and Fun at the Island Fair.
This Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9, island residents and visitors will have a chance to step away from the busy Nantucket season and enjoy old-fashioned local fun at the Island Fair.
The annual county fair has been a tradition on Nantucket dating back to the mid-1800s, when the event included cattle and livestock shows, plowing matches, horse races, judging of produce and "manufactured articles," a butter contest, penmanship contests for children, "apple races for young folks," tug-o-war contests, bicycle races, concerts, and a fancy dress ball. At the fairs held during the 1850s, Nantucket's strong ties to the sea were evident in the mix of marine items with agricultural displays: exhibits included shell work, ship models, spermaceti, and a handmade mariner's compass.
There won’t be any plowing matches or penmanship contests this year, but on Saturday and Sunday at the Tom Nevers Navy Base, there will be plenty to see and do at the Island Fair.
One of the favorite fair events is the Pumpkin Contest. Last year the blue ribbon went to island grower Ray Owen, the reigning champ, and Jessica Campbell. Owen’s 2006 winning pumpkin, tipped the scales at 722 pounds. “It was the biggest one ever,” Owen said proudly.
This year, Owen will not be entering a pumpkin due to health reasons. “It’s time to let someone else win,” he said. Paul Michetti, whose pumpkins won in 1998, 1999, and 2000, says it was his three-year winning streak that spurred Owen on to his six years of prize-winning pumpkins. “It got Ray all revved up, and he got serious and won,” Michetti chuckled. According to Michetti, the growing season this year was good: “I have a pumpkin that’s at least 400 pounds...it might be bigger but I don’t want to curse myself...last year I had a great pumpkin and a week before [the fair] it developed a crack and went completely flat.”
They never know exactly who will show up at the fair with a pumpkin to enter, but Michetti says that Marcus Goulding and Tom McGuiness “always have good pumpkins.” Goulding and McGuiness, as well as Goulding’s son Vincent and Chris Iller usually participate. Winners get bragging rights and ribbons for the biggest, the smallest, the most photogenic, the most unusual, and an honorable mention. The pumpkins will be weighed-in and the winner determined on Saturday at 12 noon.
This year the Island Fair’s featured event will be the Records and Burpee Traveling Children’s Zoo, which assembles 75 exotic and domestic animals for fairgoers to view and enjoy. Zebras, llamas, camels, pygmy goats, are just a few of the animals that will be on visiting Nantucket. The animals can be viewed during fair hours on both days. Camel and pony rides will be offered for a small fee.
A flea market featuring work by many local artisans will again be open at the fair. A dozen or more craftspeople are expected, and their widely varied offerings will include knitted items, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, artwork, Nantucket tool bags, t-shirts. To sell your wares at the fair, call Sandy Golden by Friday, September 7, at 508-228-8683.
Tie-dying will be back again this year. The tie-dying is free for those who bring their own article of clothing; t-shirts that can be tie-dyed will be available for purchase at the table for $5. Children will also be able to play the Pumpkin Toss game and get their faces painted.
Local produce, jams, jellies, pickles, sauces, baked goods, quilts, rugs, needlepoint, crafts of any type, and local farm local animals will displayed and judged. All entries for the blue ribbon contests must be at the fair by 9:30 am on Saturday morning. If there’s enough room, last-minute crafts, jams, and vegetables will be welcomed.
On both fair days, local musical groups will perform life, and island community groups will sell hot dogs, burgers, sausages, ice cream, and candy, and the Sons of the American Legion will again offer their very popular seafood extravaganza.
The fun continues on Sunday with the annual pet show at 2 p.m. The show is open to island pets of all shapes and sizes, with ribbons for the furriest, the smallest, the best trick, and many other categories.
The Island Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Fair admission is free with a $10 parking fee.
