PISCATAQUIS VALLEY FAIR
2014 edition of the annual Piscataquis Valley Fair offers something for everyone
DOVER-FOXCROFT — This year marks the 127th anniversary of the Piscataquis Valley Fair, which began in 1887. The 2014 fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 24 at the fairgrounds located at 77 Fairview Avenue. The four days will feature exhibitions, rides, concerts and fun for all ages.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HORSING AROUND AT THE FAIR — Kim Desrosier of Dexter guides her horses Levi and Bud during the 3,200-pound pull as part of last year’s Piscataquis Valley Fair in Dover-Foxcroft. Desrosier’s team finished in first place at a distance of 232 feet, 10 inches. The 127th annual Piscataquis Valley Fair will take place on Thursday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 24.
The festivities begin on Thursday, Aug. 21 with the farm oxen weigh-in at 9 a.m. and open flower judging at 10 a.m. At noon the fire department museum — located next to the police building, exhibition halls and animal land all open. The farm oxen twitch, scoot and pull also begins at noon and the midway rides will open at 2 p.m. Laser tag opens at 2:30 p.m. in the hockey rink, and also at 2:30 p.m. String Field Theory takes to the stage.
The milking parlor will be the site of a pedal tractor pull at 4 p.m. to be followed by a milking demonstration at 6 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. a bicycle drawing will take place at the fair office.
Evening events for the first day of the fair will include a figure eight mechanical truck competition at 6 p.m., the HJ Crosby Band performing at 6:30 p.m., a He-Man Contest at 7:30 p.m. and then fireworks at 9 p.m.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BEEF IN COW FORM — The youth beef show at the Piscataquis Valley Fair enables young farmers to show off their cows for the judges and spectators.
Friday, Aug. 22 events will kick off with an open sheep show at 10 a.m. and youth dairy show at 11 a.m. The fire department museum, exhibition halls and animal land all open at noon, as does bingo and farmers’ horse events.
A magic show is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on the hill, as are farm tractor pulls at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. the midway rides open, and Dan Grady will present his Marvelous Marionette Medley at 2 p.m. on the hill. The hill will be the site of a balloon show at 3:30 p.m., and at 3 p.m. a relay race takes place behind the ice cream parlor. Pedal tractor pulling and milking demonstrations will both take place at the parlor starting at 4:30 and 6 p.m. respectively.
The fair office will conduct a bicycle drawing at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m. a tuff truck competition takes place at the mechanical area, as does milking demonstrations at 6 p.m. at the parlor. Dan Grady will present his Marvelous Marionette Medley at 6 p.m. on the hill. The band Empty Head takes to the stage at 8 p.m.
Observer file photo/Jeannette Hughes
OLD-FASHIONED FIRE EQUIPMENT — The Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department’s museum at the fairgrounds provides a glimpse into the apparatus for battling blazes of the past.
An 8:30 a.m. an equitation horse show starts off the day on Saturday, Aug. 23, to be followed by a lawn and garden tractor pull at 9 a.m. Opening at 10 a.m. will be an antique auto display, the exhibition halls, fire department museum, horse pulling, animal land and a youth beef cattle show.
From 10 a.m. to noon children can compete in a cookie decorating contest on the hill. Midway rides open at 11 a.m., as does laser tag in the hockey rink, and a skillet throw starts at 11:30 a.m., with contestants signing up at the fair office. Bingo starts at 12 p.m. Dan Grady will present his Marvelous Marionette Medley at noon on the hill.
In the tradition of Mark Twain a frog jumping competition is slated for 1 p.m., as is a farm tractor pull and pedal tractor pulling. A cookie stacking contest starts at 1:30 p.m. on the hill.
A magic show is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the hill, to be followed by an animal costume parade and Dan Grady’s Marvelous Marionette Medley at 3 p.m. The fair office will have a bicycle drawing at 4 p.m.
The parlor will hold a milking demonstration at 6 p.m. Also at 6 p.m. will be truck pulls, a balloon show on the hill and wrist wrestling with signups beforehand at 5:30 p.m. by the police building. The evening musical act Dakota takes to the stage at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, Aug. 24, the final day of this year’s fair, the festivities start with a game horse show at 9 a.m. Horse pulling and a youth dairy goat show will begin at 9:30 a.m. Dan Grady will present his Marvelous Marionette Medley at 9:30 a.m. on the hill.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TRACTOR PULL — At a distance of 178 feet, 9 inches, Richie Potter won the 1,300-pound improved stock class during the 2013 Piscataquis Valley Fair.
A number of events start at 10 a.m. including a doodlebug drawing, the opening of the exhibition halls as well as the fire department museum and animal land and a pedal tractor pull at the milking parlor.
Pie judging is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., as is a youth dairy goat show. At 11 a.m. the midway rides open, as does a bubblegum blowing contest at the hill, and a chicken barbecque starts at 11:30 a.m. in the dining hall. Bingo will begin at noon.
The children’s pig scramble starts at 1 p.m. in the pulling arena with signups, with parental permission, from 10 a.m. to noon in the fair office.
A magic show is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the hill by the office, and at 3 p.m. the ever popular demolition derby begins as does the pedal tractor pull off at the milking parlor. Dan Grady will present his Marvelous Marionette Medley at 3 p.m. on the hill. The final bicycle drawing at the fair office is scheduled for 4 p.m. A balloon show starts at 4:10 p.m. with the fair closing at 6 p.m.
For more information on the 2014 Piscataquis Valley Fair, please go to www.PiscataquisValleyFair.com or find the fair on Facebook.
Observer file photos/Stuart Hedstrom
PEEK-A-MOO — Several cows look up while a sheep does not let itself get fenced in.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HOT YOUNG CHICK — A minutes-old chicken moves away from its shell after hatching. Several other chickens were born at Animal Land during last year’s edition of the Piscataquis Valley Fair.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
OLD AND OLDER — A range of automobiles from the 20th century were on display near the fair entrance by Fairview Avenue in Dover-Foxcroft.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MARVELOUS MARIONETTE MEDLEY — Dan Grady’s Marvelous Marionette Medley will once again perform throughout the annual Piscataquis Valley Fair.