Cup O‘ Joe
With the coming of the Fourth of July next weekend, summer has officially arrived, and so too has the warm weather. It only took about a month, but this past weekend temperatures finally soared into the upper 80s making it officially feel like summer.
For many, the weekend was a time to spend at the lake, or lounging in a swimming pool over a lazy two-day stretch.
But not everyone had the opportunity to be lazy. The fairgrounds of Houlton Community Park will soon be bustling with activity as organizers gear up for the big four-day Houlton Agricultural Fair. This year’s four-day celebration kicks off Friday, July 1 with a full array of events and activities for young and old alike.
The Fourth of July and Houlton go hand-in-hand. It is a time for family get-togethers and barbecues. It is also a time for graduates of Houlton High School, as well as those from neighboring schools, to return home for class reunions and relive memories from their youth.
For many, coming home over the Fourth of July is a tradition like no other. Take a stroll down Main Street or visit the fairgrounds and you are sure to bump into someone you have not seen in years. Most anyone who ever attended Houlton’s Agricultural Fair as a youth has fond memories of spending hours at Community Park, going on rides, eating scrumptious fair food, watching the demolition derbies and of course, the fireworks shows.
Putting the Fair together is an arduous task for sure and the members of the Fair Committee are to be lauded for their efforts. Will the Fair please everyone? Of course not. But I doubt any festival ever could.
Yes the price of admission has gone up slightly this year from $10 to $12. But what hasn’t gone up in price? The fair organizers have done an admirable job in keeping the price down as this year’s hike marks the first increase in nine years.
It’s a balancing act of having enough stuff for adults and children alike and it’s impossible to please everyone. Where else can children and adults get to go on as many rides as they want, participate in any of the many of the games and contests, and get up close to a number of farm animals thanks to the local 4H group?
The fair committee has done an admirable job coming up with a variety of events aimed to please all age groups with livestock, midway rides, lawn mower racing, demolition derby, and an all-new motor vehicle event “the Tuff Truck/ATV and UTV competition” for the simple all-inclusive admission of $12.
Midnight Madness will be celebrated Saturday, July 2 in downtown Houlton. This year’s theme is “Under the Big Top,” so patrons are sure to see a variety of circus themed storefronts and activities. Because the event falls on a Saturday, a full day of events are planned this year, instead of just an evening of fun.
Once again, a portion of Market Square will be closed to traffic and transformed into a street fair atmosphere with sidewalk sales, street vendors and music. The Community Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the Craft Fair runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The LP Miracle Mile road race starts at 6 p.m., followed by McGill’s Community Band from 7-8 p.m. and Ted and the Boys from 8-10:30 p.m.
If there is one thing Houlton does better than most communities, it is fireworks and this year should be no exception.
A pyrotechnic display will illuminate downtown near the Gateway Crossing Bridge Saturday around 9:30 p.m., while a massive fireworks show at Community Park is planned for Monday, July 4.
Also on the Fourth, Houlton’s Agricultural Fair opens at 8 a.m., followed by the town parade, sponsored at 10 a.m. Speak to anyone who watches the parade, and chances are they have “the best spot” picked out every year. For some, it is near the Cary Library, while others enjoy being in Market Square and countless more fill Pierce Park near the Houlton Police Department in order to catch the parade twice (as it heads down Main Street and comes back up Military Street).
Just a reminder, our office will be closed on Monday, July 4. The staff of the newspaper wishes everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at jcyr@pioneertimes-me.com or 532-2281.
