Smokey

  PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Smokey’s Greater Shows returns to the Northern Maine Fair this year and will bring with them a great selection of rides, games and concessions.     According to Lynwood Winslow, fair president, the rides are in great shape and passing inspections throughout Maine.
“Smokey’s is glad to be back in the county,” said Winslow. “It’s really a Maine-based business … they do most of the fairs in Maine including Fryeburg and Blue Hill. They had a smaller version of the midway in Houlton during their fair, and they’ll have a bigger midway with us.
“We’re expecting 23 to 25 rides including a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, the Thunder Bolt, and more,” he said. “The equipment is in really good shape, and they have an excellent relationship with the state of Maine.”
The fair will offer four bracelet days where people can pay one price – $15 – and ride all the rides. Bracelet days will be from 4-9 p.m. Sunday, July 29; 3-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 31; 4-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2; and noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4.
The 153rd Northern Maine Fair will be held in Presque Isle from July 27-Aug. 4.
Winslow said fairgoers should be very pleased with this year’s event.
“We spent thousands of hours putting this fair together,” he said. “This year’s fair we started working on prior to last year’s fair. I think we’ve put together an action-packed fair that’s going to be full of new family activities and thrill shows, as well as our traditional events.”
One of the featured events highlighting the fair will be the B&C Ranch.
Two of America’s premier circus families have come together to create this special presentation. Brett Carden and Cathy Hanneford present tons of entertainment with their amazing elephant act, and a horse and camel review.
“They’re going to have a big top set up and they’ll do daily shows throughout the fair,” said Winslow, “as well as offer rides on elephants for kids. We’re really looking forward to that.”
Back by popular demand, Boost Mobile Freestyle MX will hold shows at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 and Wednesday, Aug. 1.
The Boost Mobile Freestyle MX tour travels internationally and features top FMX superstars that include X Game and Dew Tour riders, and is the largest and longest running tour in the world.
Keeping with the bike theme, Maximum Velocity, which has been providing high-end entertainment all over the United States since 1995, will be offering shows at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.
Another new event will be an Antique Tractor Pull.
“This is a unique and fun event,” said Winslow, “and over 50 tractors are expected.”
The Antique Tractor Pull will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 in front of the grandstand.
Winslow said the fair proudly introduces St. John Valley Day on Sunday, July 29. The day will be dedicated to the people from the St. John Valley, and will feature music and displays representing Acadian culture.
“We’d like to try to do a Cultural Day each year,” he said. “There are a number of different cultures in Aroostook County, and we’d like to highlight a different one every year.”
Trying to attract more women to the fair, directors have added the Ladies Pavilion, which will be located in the commercial exhibition building and will feature more than 20 independent consultants from direct selling companies, home-based businesses and local businesses of interest to women.
Among those businesses being featured include Creative Memories, Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Discovery Toys, Jafra, Noah’ Ark Bear and Stamp’n Up.
Family Fun Night will be Tuesday, July 31. The evening starts with the traditional pig scramble, which is designed for kids ages 8 to 12. Other activities on Family Fun Night will include a Boost Mobile Freestyle MX show, a performance by “Fireman Fred,” and a fireworks display.
Winslow said the fair will be honored at a special plaque presentation for being selected as one of two USTA Blue Ribbon Fair Award winners for 2007.
Chosen by the readers of Hoof Beats, the world’s largest magazine devoted to Standardbred horses, as well as visitors to the USTA’s Web site, www.ustrotting.com, the Northern Maine Fair will be honored with a story in Hoof Beats and the presentation of a plaque by USTA directors during the fair.
“We’re being recognized for our history and tradition in harness racing,” said Winslow. “This year we have two afternoons and four evenings of harness racing.”
Winslow thanks the community for sticking with the fair during both the good times and bad.
“We believe we have the best lineup we’ve had in years,” he said. “There’s something all the time, and some really neat acts. Our goal is to provide Aroostook County’s best summertime family value entertainment, and I think we’ve really put a good program together for people.
“I hope people can come down and see some of the new things we have,” said Winslow, “and enjoy some of the good food and entertainment we’ve put together.”
Children six and under are admitted free, 7-12 is $1, 13 and older is $6, and a weekly pass is $30.
For a complete schedule of events, log onto www.northernmainefairgrounds.com or pick up a copy of the Northern Maine Fair Association’s 28-page magazine that ran in last week’s edition of the local newspapers and can also be found at local convenience stores.