What to Know About the Topsfield Fair This Weekend, Oct. 11-12; Axe Women Loggers to Perform, Free Polo Match

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, is the final weekend of the 2014 Topsfield Fair. The fair is put on by the non-profit Essex Agricultural Society and is the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. at the fairgrounds on Route 1. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m.

Saturday is 4-H Day and Sunday is Grange Day.

Saturday is the last day to preregister for the Parent/Child Cookie Celebration.

In the grandstand, the Axe Women Loggers of Maine perform at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The arena will host the fair’s first-ever Touch-a-Truck event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where everyone can get up close to a wide variety of trucks and other vehicles. Later, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, there will be a polo match in the arena, which is free with fair admission.

On Sunday, there will be draft horse shows in the arena all day starting at 11 a.m., except the Hallamore Clydesdales 8-Horse Hitch will take to the arena floor at 1:30 p.m.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police returned to the fair this year with their musical ride, but they will not perform this weekend. Their final performance was on Friday.

Kids can try to climb to the top of the Money Pole at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Essex County Farmyard (across from Coolidge Hall) on both Saturday and Sunday.

The State Police K-9 unit will put on a demonstration in the Essex County Farmyard on both Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

All weekend, 2014 American Honey Princess Elena Hoffman will be in the beekeeping building.

On Sunday, the First Congregational Church of Boxford will conduct a church service on the Trianon Stage at 10 a.m.

Mrs. Essex County 2014 will be crowned at the Mrs. Essex County Pageant starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Coolidge Hall.

Robinson’s Racing Pigs, which return to the Topsfield Fair this year, perform on Grange Road at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m. each weekend day.

Along Arena Road, the “Nerveless Knocks” aerial stunt performers will have shows at 11 a.m. and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Admission is $15 for adults all weekend. Children under eight are free with a paying adult. Parking is $10 per car.