NEW GLOUCESTER – Gray skies parted giving way to a giant swath of blue accompanied by warm sunshine to greet thousands attending the seventh annual New Gloucester Community Fair on Saturday.

The two-day event which continues today attracted roughly 30 public service agencies, food vendors, musicians and crafters. On stage, musical groups entertained – the Intergalactic Yurt Band, Kat’s Kids Sing and Dance Hour and Albie Gingrich duo and the Mountain Cats throughout the day.

However, the Blackhawk and LifeFlight helicopters expected to make an appearance at the event were unable to attend.

The day’s highlights included the Dirigo Vintage Base Ball Club of Augusta played against a Hallowell team using the rules of 1860s baseball.

Craig Young of Turner, the umpire for the team, said the team emerged in 2005 as an offshoot of the Third Maine military reenactment group. As part of the Civil War camp scenario, town ball, a predecessor to the sport of baseball, was often played by military during down time.

At its start in 1845, baseball was played without gloves and the pitcher was a hurler, who threw underhand from 45 feet away, as opposed to the 60 feet 6 inches that pitchers throw from today.

There was no strike zone and the the batter was allowed to take as many pitches as he saw fit. There was only one umpire and his decision is final. There was no arguing a call, said Young.

Local team members include Bob Hubbard, his son Brandon and Kevin Sullivan in vintage clothes and his son Dillon. The boys serve as bat boys.

There was constant talk about the weather. Regular event attendees Bob and Harriet MacGregor of New Gloucester stopped by in the morning chatting with friends and neighbors. “We watched the weather report and said, ‘get out of here, get out of here,'” said Bob MacGregor.

Children tugged on the arms of parents luring them to the games of skill to earn rewards. Louise Phillips of New Gloucester stood patiently watching her 8-year-old son, John, try to win a wiggly, cloth snake at a balloon dart game. So far $4 was spent as uncooperative balloons bowed aside when the darts approached.

Poland Spring Academy’s popular bungy trampoline attracted young and old. Waiting patiently to be weighed in, the bouncers bounded gleefully reaching new heights.

A car show sponsored by the Lions Club of Gray attracted hundreds of vintage vehicles.

Bob Koenig of Topsham was spotted polishing the tires on his Packard 110, which sold originally for $867. Today, said Keonig, the car is valued at $27,000. On Sunday he plans to join the Antique Automobile Club of America members and take a spin to Rumford and Screw Auger Falls. “There’s a lot of camaraderie in the members,” says Koenig.

A hot game, Cow Pie Bingo held in a far corner of the field divided into a grid similar to a bingo card, brought some impatience as a critter failed to leave a sampling in a grid claimed, instead in a grid unclaimed. At stake was a $250 pot. By late afternoon, impatient bystanders were still waiting.

This year’s fair was dedicated to all the public servants in the military, fire and rescue and police, said Rev. Linda Gard of the First Congregational Church of New Gloucester.

Chairman of the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen David Lunt said the weather cooperated for the community. “The public brought their appetite and it was great to see people talking, and enjoying each other and walking around. There was a good sense of community today,” said Lunt.

Sunday’s events include Big Boys Toys Day with construction equipment and remote control airplanes, for example. A bake-off sale will be judged and on stage the Gray-New Gloucester High School band is expected with the 50/50 band and Jim Gallant.