It’s that time of year again! Yes, that’s right, the 51st Washington County Fair is nearly here and we’ve got all the details you need to make the five-day fair a great experience. Come for one day, one night, or come for all five – there’s something for everyone!
Pack the sunscreen, put on your walking shoes and get the kids in the car, cause it’s going to be a wild ride. But first, let me give you a little history about the iconic event and how it started.
It all started in 1967 on the grounds of the Perryville Grange in Wakefield. The idea for it came about from the Washington County Pomona Grange, which encompasses all the local granges in the county. The fair is owned and operated by the Washington County Pomona Grange, which is a part of the the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
The fair took place in Wakefield for several years before it became clear that it needed a larger chunk of land for the expansive event. After searching around, a large piece of land on Richmond Townhouse Road was purchased with the idea that it would not only be used for the fair but for other organizations to use. The land was cleared and a to-do list was drawn up – there was a lot on the list, but grangers from across the country came to help ready the land for the fair.
The community-driven start of the fair is what makes it run like a well-oiled machine today. If you ask any of the staffers on site today, they’ll tell you that it couldn’t go off so well if it weren’t for each and every one of people involved.
Since the beginning, a steering committee has led the fair and guided it to make it the best it can be in order to offer families a look into the past at simpler times. As the years went on, improvements and additions were made at the fairgrounds. Some of the latest include the addition of a third ring for pulling events, a new sheep and goat barn, and a museum holding a vast collection of agricultural equipment and other antique items.
This year, the fair will take place from August 16-20 and as always, the schedule of events ranges from tractor pulls to live music, 4-H shows to carnival rides, pie eating contests to pageants. Every day, the festivities begin at 9 a.m. and continue until around dusk, depending on if there are musical acts performing in the evening.
One of this year’s highlights will be a live performance by Billy Gilman on Saturday night at 9 p.m. If you haven’t heard of him, he’s talented singer, born and raised in Washington County, and has made it big in the music world – you’ll be awed by his voice.
Admission is $11 for adults and children 10 and under are free. Ride tickets are not included with admission. Parking is free. For more information and to take a look at the detailed schedule of events, please visit our event calendar by clicking here.
