Hamburg Fair Kicks Off Today!

The 111th Annual Hamburg Fair kicks off today and, as tonight's festivities include a pony pull and a DJ, there could be quite a few creatures kicking up their heels!

Undoubtedly, this is the small town of Lyme's biggest event of the year yet it still retains the feeling of the traditional small-town country fair that got the whole ball rolling more than a century ago.

"It’s an old-time country fair," said Marita Rand, who chairs the publicity committee and who also judges entries in the vegetables, fruits, and grains contest. "People like to come because it’s small and they can bring the kids without worrying about them running off and never finding them again!"

Held at the Hamburg Fairgrounds at 1 Sterling City Road (AKA Route 156 West—see map posted with this article) the venue isn't huge but it promises big fun for the kids with carnival rides, games and contests, hoola hoops and clowns, a karate demonstration, and lots of animals from alpacas to rabbits to pet.

Rand says organizers try to keep costs low, so the entrance fee is just $5, kids under 12 are free, and most of the entertainment and events are free of charge.

As always, the fair includes exhibits of photography, quilts, arts and crafts and contests for everything from pie baking to pie eating. This year’s special exhibitions include Western Re-enactment Blacksmith Demonstrations, which is set up in an historic encampment. 

There will be music each night starting with DJ Jamkat and the Candlewood Band this evening. The 8-Mile River Band takes the stage on Saturday night and the ever-popular Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club is making a return appearance this year to perform on Sunday night.

Amazingly, the three-day event is organized and operated entirely by volunteers. The Lyme Fire Department helps out too and the Lyme Ambulance is always on hand, but it's a small and dedicated group of people who plan the fair and its success depends on people in town who offer to take tickets at the gate or work at the snack bar.  

"If it weren’t for the volunteers there wouldn’t be a fair," said Rand.  

Here's a list of the events, as posted on the Hamburg Fair's website.

Friday, August 17

Gates Open 5pm

Imperial Shows “$20 Ride all Day” Bracelet 5-10pm

DJ Jamkat Entertainment – Big Top 5-7pm

Pony Pull (Ring) 7pm

“Candlewood” Live Band – Big Top 7-11pm

Saturday, August 18

Gates Open (surprise gift for first 100 kids) 9am

DJ Jamkat (Big Top) 9-11am

Imperial Shows “$20 Ride Bracelet”  11am-4pm

Kid Games (Ring): Pie and watermelon eating, nail driving, balloon toss 11am-1pm

Still Pick’n Live Band (Big Top)  12-2pm

Horse Pull 12-2pm

Karate Endeavors, Andrew Bakoledis(Stage) 2-3:00pm

Everybody Hoops (Stage) 3-4:00pm

Imperial Shows “$20 Ride Bracelet” 4-10pm

Jump Swing Fever Orchestra (Stage) 4-6:30pm

8 Mile River Band (Stage) 7-11:00pm

Sunday, August 19

Gates Open 9am

Imperial Shows “$20 Ride All Day” bracelet 11am-5pm

Ox Pull and Powder Puff (Ring) 9am

La La (Stage) 12- 3pm

CT Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club 3-6pm

All Three Days

Imperial Shows $20 Ride Bracelet: (Fri 5-10pm, Sat: 11am-4pm or 4pm-10pm, Sun: 11am-5pm)

Ride all day Saturday: 11am-10pm $30

Pisgah Mountain Primitives – Black Smith Demonstrations

Clowning around with Rick Maciag-Skits, Balloons

Imperial Shows Carnival Rides, Midway Games

Concessions, Pony Rides, Free Activities and Games for Kids, Alpacas, Antique tractors, Farm and Animal Exhibits, Free interactive Exhibits