OXFORD – Tropical Storm Hanna’s drenching rains gave way to sunny blue skies Sunday and a fantastic opening day for the seven-day Oxford Fair.

Organizers at the main gate off Pottle Road and Route 26 estimated attendance at 2,500 as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday and car loads of people continued to arrive to catch evening entertainment, including headliner Phil Stacey, an American Idol contestant.

“The weather has been just perfect,” fair Director Jeanne Whittemore of Norway said while manning the information booth. “Attendance has been very nice. We’ve had steady crowds. It’s just been a good day.”

Good enough to see a new harness racing record set in the 11th race by driver Kevin Switzer Jr. with Shady Sabrina, Whittemore said. They recorded a time of 1 minute and 55.2 seconds, topping the previous track record of a minute and 56 seconds held jointly by Eighth Wonder and Jason’s Jiffy.

Besides upping the fair schedule from four to seven days and offering entertainment and competitions from belly dancing to live bull riding, fair goers will find several new buildings offering educational family fun.

One newbie is Rockland helicopter pilot Rene Hebert, owner of Leisure Maine Helicopter Services of Rockland.

Hebert flew in Sunday afternoon in a red Robinson R-44 helicopter to offer 10-minute rides daily around the area throughout the fair.

“It was a bit choppy this morning, but the winds are dying off now, so it should be good for the next couple of days,” said Hebert, a former commercial airline pilot.

Shortly after he and pilot/mechanic Bruce Woollett arrived, people were eager to catch a quick flight around town.

“It always amazes me how people are surprised they’re not scared to ride in a helicopter. It’s a different experience, even for people who’ve flown before in a plane. Helicopter flying just blows people away, because you’re not up high and it’s so visual with glass all around you. You see stuff you wouldn’t see otherwise,” Hebert said.

People who don’t stroll through the grounds will miss a lot of fun stuff, like the new artists and artisans barn or the Western Maine Mineral Adventures Mineral Barn, which used to be the former chicken and rabbit coop barn.

Completely redone inside and out by Friends of the Maine Mineral Pavillion, the Mineral Barn offers mineral and jewelry vendors selling many gems taken from Maine mines.

Additionally, Dig Gems co-owner Zoltan Matolcsy built a waist-high wooden sluice with running water where people can sift mine material for tourmaline crystals and more.

“I worked like a madman all summer to build it, because I knew it would be a hit,” Matolcsy said. “The kids are having a ball. That’s what’s important.”

A movie produced about gold panning in Coos Canyon featuring local people debuted Sunday inside and will be played throughout the fair.

“This crowd has been incredible for a Sunday. I’m just delighted with the response,” Matolcsy said.

Fair goer Earl McKenzie of St. Johnsbury, Vt., thought so, also. He and Tisa Abbey and Michelle Conley drove to Oxford just to attend the fair because, “It’s a lot of fun.”

Monday features exhibitor demonstrations, arts and heritage displays and demos, Junior Woodsman’s and Woodsman’s Day competitions, oxen pulling, wrestling and more.

For a schedule of events, visit the Web site of the Oxford Fair, or The Big O, as it’s known locally, at www.oxfordcountyfair.com.