OXFORD – It took 108 pages of the guide to list all the competitions, events and general goings-on of the 158th Oxford County Fair.

That’s a lotta stuff.

Fair organizers included a variety of many activities to span nearly 12 hours of every day from Wednesday to Saturday.

“Fairs are for everybody,” said Caldwell Jackson, fair spokesperson.

Organizers are calling the fair the “Horse Powered Fair” to recognize the return of trotter racing and pari-mutuel betting after a 39-year absence.

However, if you do not like watching horses run around in a circle, there are plenty of other activities.

There’re animal and motorized vehicle pulls, a demolition derby and on Friday a He-Man Contest.

Enjoy baking? How about entering the following contests: Oatmeal Yeast Bread Contest, Grandma’s Molasses Cookies, Blueberry Muffins for Kids, The Chip Off the Old Block Cookies for kids and of course, there’s the Mom’s Apple Pie Contest.

There will be music during the day and headliner bands in the evening.

And on Wednesday, kid’s favorites Walt and Mrs. Moose will appear from 9:30 to 12:30.

Organizers gave a theme to every day of the fair.

Wednesday is Education Day with steer and oxen demonstrations, cattle pulling baking contests and a demolition derby.

Motor Booty Affair will provide a free concert starting at 8 p.m.

Thursday is Senior Citizens Day – the $5 gate admission for adults will be reduced to $2. Kids’ admission will still be $2.

Seniors will get free coffee and doughnuts in the morning; have a chance to view and participate in a hat parade and contest and play bingo. There will be music and dancing entertainment and then at 2 p.m., the Senior Frying Pan Throw.

The Bel Airs give a free concert at 7 p.m. and at 9 p.m., there will be a grand drawing, with all admission ticket purchasers entered, for $1,000.

Friday is Woodsmen’s Day – plenty of cutting and sawing competition including bucksaw, crosscut saw, chain saws – then the axe throw, pulpwood throw and skillet toss. It would not be complete without a tree felling competition and two-man log roll.

At 5 p.m., there will be a pig scramble and the He-Man Contest begins at 8 p.m.

Bill Haley’s Comets will provide a free concert at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday is 4-H Day, there will be rabbit, goat, sheep, beef, and horse shows, not to mention a baby show and balloon zoo.

The Debbie Myers Show will provide free entertainment starting at 7 p.m.

The exhibition hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.


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