Northern Maine Fair closes another successful year with final activities

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Northern Maine Fair Association marked the end of its 164th annual fair on Saturday with a final day of activities that included food and lumberjack contests, a demolition derby and the last chance for families to get out and enjoy the rides and games on the midway.

“It’s fun to go on the rides and spend time together,” said 6-year-old Kaydence Mauney, as she enjoyed a piece of blueberry pie with her siblings Megan, 12, and Isaiah, 7. Their father Josh Mauny had brought them to the fair in part to sample some delicious blueberry pie after the final food contest.

“We usually come every year for the fair food and the rides,” Josh Mauny said.

The winners of the blueberry pie contest, which was sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, were Barbara Bondeson in first place, Margaret Johnson in second and Ann Brailey in third place. Pies were judged based on appearance and the taste of the pie crust and filling.

Bondeson credited her use of fresh local blueberries as the not-so-secret recipe that won over judges.

“I work for the extension and this year I volunteered at the other pie contests so I didn’t enter any pies then. But I didn’t volunteer today,” Bondeson said, on why she waited until Saturday to enter one of her pies.

The Northern Maine Fair welcomed hundreds of families who came for popular events such as truck and tractor pulling, musical performances and the Mystik Magic Illusion By Anastasini shows and agricultural activities and contests for children of all ages.

On their Facebook page, officials with the Northern Maine Fair Association thanked their community sponsors, Smokey’s Greater Shows — who provided all midway rides and games — volunteers, employees and especially the people who came out for the fair.

“To all our fairgoers, thank you for attending. We hope you were able to create many great memories. See you all again next year!” they wrote on Sunday.