OXFORD – Dozens of changes have been made to the Oxford County Fair this year, and to the fairgrounds themselves.
But many fair-goers may agree with Faylene McKeen, one of the fair’s organizers, that “the biggest and best thing” to come to the fair this year will be the Great Frontier Bull Riding.
The Oxford County Fair will be the first appearance in the Northeast for the bull riding company, based in Maynard, Minn. The bull riders will perform every night of the fair at 8 p.m. Performances will include rodeo clowns and children’s events. In their Calcutta Event, audience members will be able to bid on which cowboy they think will win.
Those who have dreamed of being a cowboy or cowgirl when they were young, as well as any who still fantasize about life on the open range, can meet the cowboys during the “Wanna be a Cowboy” sessions. At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, the bull riders will greet the public.
Smokey’s Greater Shows will return this year with its midway. The fun house, carousel and other favorite rides will be open from 3 p.m. to closing on Wednesday and Thursday and from noon to closing Friday and Saturday.
Pari-mutuel harness racing will take place on a newly resurfaced racetrack at 3 p.m. the first three days of the fair. Saturday’s race will begin at 1 p.m. There will be 10 races each day, with stake races every day except Saturday.
The new chipped stone surface on the racetrack is one of many improvements made to the fairgrounds this summer. Twenty new light poles help illuminate the grounds. Many buildings have been moved or enlarged, including the Oxford County Fair food booth. Fairgoers can enjoy their french fries, cotton candy and dough boys in the new covered rest area near the fairgrounds’ main entrance. McKeen noted that the rest area is also a convenient place to meet friends.
Those who wish to enjoy the fair to its fullest can camp in the new camping area. The draft-horse barns were moved to make space for an RV park after the camping area had been chosen as the best spot for a grove of fruit trees this summer. The Penley building was also moved to create a new entrance for campers off the Coldwater Brook Road.
For reservations in the camping area, people can call McKeen at 441-0421.
The fairgrounds are on Pottle Road, off Route 26. For further information, people can go online to www.oxfordcountyfair.com.
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