HEATH – In its return to three days of activities, the 104th Heath Fair will offer a little something for everyone, with events ranging from traditional square dancing to the fair’s first-ever gymkhana.
The Heath Fair, which was first held at Dickinson Family Farm before moving to Heath Fairgrounds, is special this year as there have not been three days of activities since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Health security restrictions suspended the fair completely in 2020, and last summer’s event was cut short due to a hurricane.
Friday evening will kick off the fair with a variety of events. There will be a parade of vintage tractors followed by bingo. The evening will end with fireworks and a square dance.
Saturday will follow with a show of sheep, cattle and rabbits. There is no poultry show this year due to the spread of bird flu, a disease that affects poultry and has been discovered in 38 states this year.
As well as a goat show on Sunday, the last day of the fair is ideal for horse riding enthusiasts. This is the first year that the fair will feature a gymkhana, a series of competitive games on horseback.
Raffle events are a fair tradition, and they won’t be missed this year. Years ago, farmers showed their pride in their strong horses and oxen by showing how well they could pull a heavy load. As technology has changed, the variety of raffle events has changed. This year there will be antique tractors, children’s lawnmowers, ponies, oxen and truck pulls.
“When it comes to raffles, we have it all at the Heath Fair,” said Jessica O’Neill, president of the Heath Agricultural Society which organizes the fair.
In addition to lawnmower pulling, there are many activities for children. There will be a watermelon eating contest, a magic show and a bicycle raffle.
Live music can also be enjoyed throughout the weekend. Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, Trouble Sisters, Deep River Ramblers, Opal Canyon, Slide Grinders, Meadows Brothers and more are scheduled to perform.
“While people are listening to music, they can go to the beer tent,” O’Neill said. Greenfield’s The People’s Pint is the featured brewery this year. Its home-brewed beer will be available for purchase for people over 21.
O’Neill stressed that anyone can take part in the competitions at the fair – you don’t have to be a resident of Heath. Although most volunteers and competitors come from the local area, participants are welcome from anywhere.
“It’s a nice throwback,” O’Neill said of respecting Heath Fair farming traditions. “We are working hard to keep it that way.”
Attendees can come for a day for $12 or purchase a three-day pass for $30. Children under 10 are admitted free and seniors receive a discount. Attendees are requested to bring cash or checks as most vendors do not accept credit cards.
For up-to-date timetable information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit heathfair.org.
Bella Levavi can be reached at blevavi@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.
Friday August 19
■5 pm to 8 pm — Opening of the exhibition hall.
■5 p.m. to closing (11 p.m.) — Lower food stand open
■Time to be determined — Upper Food Booth open
■5 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Opening of the Beer Garden
■5:30 p.m. — Music: Uncles of the Pioneers
■5:30 p.m. — Church ham and bean supper for the ladies
■5:30 p.m. — Parade of vintage tractors
■ 6 p.m. – Antique Tractor Pull
■6:30 p.m. — Bingo
■7 p.m. — Music: Zydeco Connection with Bourbon Street Blasters
■7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. — Square Dance: Falltown String Band with Doug Wilkins as caller
■8:15 p.m. — Drawing for bicycle
■Nightfall — Fireworks
■7:00 a.m. to close (11:00 p.m.) — Lower Food Booth open.
■Time to be determined — Upper Food Booth open
■9 a.m. — Rabbit show
■9 a.m. — Children’s Lawn Mower Registration
■9 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Demonstration: Winterberry Farm Herding Dogs
■10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Opening of the exhibition hall.
■ 10:00 a.m. — Lawn mower for children
■11 a.m. — Children’s games
■11 a.m. — Shooting on horseback
■11 a.m. — Music: Trouble Sisters
■11 a.m. — Speaker: 4H presentations by young people from the Hawlemont regional school
■11 a.m. — Adult and young sheep show
■11 a.m. — Adult cattle show
■ Noon to 9 p.m. — Beer Garden open
■Lunchtime — Heath Firefighters Association Chicken BBQ
■Lunch — Demonstration: Sheep Shearing with Kevin Ford
■1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Wagon rides
■1 p.m. — Music: Deep River Ramblers
■1 p.m. — Demonstration: Hawlemont 4H (Horse care and saddlery/Drawing with ponies and oxen)
■1 p.m. — Children’s games
■1 p.m. — Cow Plop Bingo
■2 p.m. — Speaker: Winterberry Farm Herd Dogs
■3 p.m. — Speaker: Introduction to vegetable fermentation with real pickles
■3 p.m. — Music: Concert for children with Doug Wilkins
■4 p.m. — Music: Li’l Big Band by Zara Bode
■4:30 p.m. — Speaker: Local Small Grain Farming with Bruce Stetson
■5 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Truck draw
■7 p.m. — Music: Whiskey Treatise Tour
■7:00 a.m. to closing (5:00 p.m.) — Lower food stand open
■Time to be determined — Upper Food Booth open
■8 a.m. — Equine Gymkhana Obstacle Challenge Race in the gymkhana ring
■9 a.m. — Religious service
■ 9:00 a.m. – Beef draw
■10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Opening of the exhibition hall
■ 10 a.m. – American Dairy Goat Association Sanctioned Senior and Junior Goat Shows
■10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Walk-Around Magic and Balloon Animals with Ed the Wizard
■10:30 a.m. — Classic car show
■10:30 a.m. — Music: Slide Grinders
■11 a.m. — Livestock show for young people
■11 a.m. — Gymkhana
■ Noon — Music: Opal Canyon
■ Noon — Line up for the parade
■ Noon to 4 p.m. — Beer Garden
■1 p.m. — Parade (Flock Together theme)
■1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Wagon rides
■1:30 p.m. — Speaker: Tribute to Keith Sherman
■2 p.m. — Music: Meadows Brothers
■2 p.m. — Speaker: Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership
■2 p.m. — Watermelon eating contest for children
■4 p.m. — Performance: Magic Show with Ed the Sorcerer
■4:00 p.m. to close (5:00 p.m.) — Exhibit hall admissions can be picked up
