Houlton’s Agricultural Fair opens this week and this year’s celebration promises to be full of fun and excitement.
The Fourth of July and Houlton go hand-in-hand. It is a time for family gatherings 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 times 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 over at the fairgrounds and you are sure to bump into someone you have not seen in years.
And when you do, take a moment to reconnect with that person. Ask them how things are going and find out what they have been up to in recent years. It’s easy to ask these questions on social media sites, but it is not the same as looking a classmate in the face and taking a genuine interest in where the road in life has taken them.
Midnight Madness kicks off the celebration on Wednesday, July 3 with a wide variety of events slated in the downtown area. Once again, Market Square will be closed off and transformed into a street fair atmosphere with sidewalk sales, street vendors, car shows and music.
Fireworks will illuminate downtown near the Gateway Crossing Bridge sometime around 9:30 p.m., providing a spectacular scene along the Meduxnekeag River.
On the Fourth, Houlton’s Agricultural Fair opens at 8 a.m., followed by the massive town parade at 10 a.m. Be sure to get to your favorite viewing spot early, because it fills up quickly.
This year’s fair features a number of returning acts and events designed to please all age groups. The mud runs are back this year after a one-year hiatus. So too is the beano tent. And who can forget the always popular truck pulls and demolition derby.
One of the best parts of the fair, at least for me, is the food. It is the only time of year I allow myself to splurge on delicacies such as the “blooming onion” or Italian sausage, washed down, of course with some Houlton Farms Dairy lemonade. In fact, the fair has added a lemonade chugging contest to help commemorate the dairy’s 75th anniversary.
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of their lemonade. When living along the coast, I always made sure my parents came down with a cooler full of the product just so I could have my Houlton Farms fix. I may have to prove my love for the lemonade at the chugging contest this year.
Those hankering for seafood will also be pleased to know that representatives from the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland are coming to The County and will have a food booth at this year’s fair. When it comes to lobster, these folks know how to do things right and I am anxious to see a couple of old friends from that area who are making the trip north.
So if you are in Houlton for the Fourth, come to the park, relive some memories, meet some old friends and most importantly have fun in your hometown.
