Berlin Fair coming up this weekend
If you haven't had enough fair this fall ...
Posted Thursday, October 1, 2009 - 9:55am
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The 61st Annual Berlin Fair sponsored by the Berlin Lions Club kicks-off tomorrow, Oct. 2, when the gates open to the public at 11 a.m. The fair runs for three days Oct. 2, Oct, 3 and Oct. 4 — that’s Sunday when the gates close at 7 p.m.
The three-day event is one of Connecticut’s largest agricultural fairs. Tomorrow, the fairgrounds come alive with animal, produce, craft, art, photo, food and flower exhibits. There will be music, a midway and many more entertainment features as well as local history displays, a tractor barn and fun, fun, fun.
Discounted advanced ticket sales are on sale at Roger’s Marketplace, Kensington Opticians, Kensington Auto and Matson Rugs for $10. Tickets at the gate are $12 — that’s the same low price as last year. Those 62 and older, with proper identification, can get in for $8. Friday, Oct. 2, school children are admitted free until 6:00 p.m.
“Please enjoy this year’s Berlin Fair. Pray for good weather and please utilize the off-site parking lots,” said 2009 Fair President Jeffrey Glatz. “We have plenty of busses and the consensus of the crowd says that is the best way to access the Berlin Fair.”
Parking on-site at the fair is limited and shuttle busses are free. The busses run continuously, from all satellite parking areas to the front gate of the fairgrounds — and back to the parking areas. Shuttle busses from the following sites will run Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Corbin Russwin Architectural/Emhart, 225 Episcopal Road, Berlin; Northeast Utilities CL&P, Berlin Turnpike; and Aetna Insurance Company, 1000 Middle St., Middletown.
Busses will also run Friday only from Berlin High School, 139 Patterson Way, from noon to 10 p.m.
Public schools and St. Paul School are closed Friday to allow staff and students to attend or volunteer at the Beckley Road fairgrounds. Most of the town staff has the day off for “employee appreciation day” authorized recently by the Town Council.
Hundreds of volunteers make the fair a reality year after year and a significant portion of the proceeds are used to help local civic organizations.
Fairgoers don’t want to miss anything, but here are a few stops to consider that might make a visit to this year’s Berlin Fair a little extra special. (Check the website www.ctberlinfair.com or the fair book for all the details.)
World of Wheels features drivers young and old from the Nutmeg Kart Club in Berlin. Drivers will take to the newly enlarged World Karting association 1/12th mile dirt oval master track.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, the main race events will take place for seven classes of drivers. This is the last official points event of the year and championships will be won and lost.
“Come on out to see some exciting, fast-paced hard-nosed short track racing at its finest,” states fair publicity.
Berlin Fair Historical Museum
This year, the all new displays at the historical museum’s barn feature a recreation of a trolley and Berlin’s famous Leatherman and an all-new historic slide show. There will also be a display on farms. The barn is near the vendor entrance inside gate, past the rest room building, down the hill towards the tractor pull area. A yellow Yankee Peddler wagon is outside.
Museum volunteers say fairgoers should be sure to visit the museum’s Country Store, too. The country store features Berlin crocks and afghans, homemade jams, local honey, CT maple syrup, spices, Christmas ornaments and a few new items like a postcard book of early Berlin photographs and something called Berlin Dirt.
Berlin Dirt is a chance to get a little historic
gossip with a personal piece of Berlin. The postcard book and Berlin dirt make great gifts and stocking stuffers for friends or family who have moved away from Berlin.
The Berlin Agricultural Lions Museum — also known as the tractor barn — is a favorite stop for tractor and farm implement fans who can see restored and original tractors donated by area farmers. The big barn has seen many new improvements since it was built a couple years ago by an Amish construction crew from Pennsylvania. The Lions have amassed an impressive collection of farm implements and tractors from local agricultural operations dating back 100 years. Barn board and tool displays, along with dozens of tractors, make this exhibit a unique treasure the whole family will enjoy.
The food is a must. The fair boasts many fine food choices freshly prepared by the Berlin Lions Club and local churches and nonprofit organizations. Try them all: hot dogs, hamburgers, fried dough, pulled pork sandwiches, fired clams and steak and cheese. Then move on to the desserts. There’s also a beer and wine booth.
Grand Funk Railroad needs no introduction. The world-famous band takes the Big Show Stage Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. Country superstar Phil Vassar is scheduled for Saturday night at 7 p.m. on the main stage. Other great music during fair weekend includes: the Nifty Fifties Band; Eran Troy Danner; Johnny Vibrato; and The Bluelights.
Other fun stuff: The Bubble Show, Baby Contest, frog jumping and turtle race, blueberry pie-eating contest, Robinson’s Racing Pigs, bands from Berlin High School and McGee Middle School, Ma Martin’s Wild West Rodeo, children’s tractor pull, oxen and cattle drawing contests, horse drawing contest, open horse show, nail driving contest.
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