GREENFIELD — In its 176th year, the Franklin County Fair will return Thursday through Sunday, bringing familiar favorites, such as the Flying High Frisbee Dogs and the Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby, along with several new attractions.
Among the new additions are Little Diggers Construction, a construction site-themed play area for children, as well as Rock and Roll Racing, a six-track racing simulator in which community members race against a computer.
The simulated racing, according to Franklin County Agricultural Society Entertainment Director Steve DeJoy, will begin this year in lieu of the familiar racing pigs, which he said will not be available for the first time in more than 30 years.
“It’s at no fault of ours — we tried. They called us in February and said that they would not be making a Northeast run this year because of cost, and would hope to be back next year,” DeJoy said. “We scrambled for a couple of months and tried to find literally every racing pig vendor in the country and came up with nothing.”
Michael Nelson, president of the Franklin County Agricultural Society that manages the Wisdom Way fairgrounds, said he hopes the simulated racing event, which is free to the public, will be a “real huge hit” this year. Nelson added that this year, he is excited to include Marshalls County Store, which recently purchased the longstanding Leyden United Methodist Church booth, as a first-time vendor at the fair.
Kicking off the four days of entertainment, the traditional Franklin County Fair Parade will start at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, near Greenfield Middle School. It will work its way down Federal Street onto Main Street and end at the fairgrounds. Gates at the fairgrounds will open at 3 p.m. Thursday, with the final entertainment act of the day, Axe Women Loggers of Maine, taking the stage at 7:15 p.m.
On Sunday, Sept. 7, gates will open at 8 a.m. and the Emergency Services Parade will begin marching at 11 a.m., followed by a Fire Department event in which children will use miniature firehoses and targets to practice putting out “fires.”
Nelson explained that these events are part of a larger goal of bringing more children’s activities to the fair. He said his 5-year-old son reviewed the Little Diggers Construction attraction before he decided to bring it to Greenfield.
“My 5-year-old son actually found Little Diggers. We were at a fair trade show back in the fall and when we observed his reaction, we said, ‘We have to have this event,'” Nelson said. “This is just something that was so obvious. It’s going to be a huge attraction for the younger kids.”
A free shuttle will run from the 40 Olive St. parking garage to the fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, Nelson said. Additionally, returning acts, such as Pirate Man Dan, Shriners Clowns and Team East BMX, will be there.
“We have all the usual fan favorites, so the Roundhouse and the Youth Hall are both looking like they’re gonna have some pretty spectacular exhibits this year,” Nelson said. “We’re looking forward to seeing that all set up with all the creative and beautiful things that people have made and grown at home.”
As the number of volunteers that help with the annual event slowly dwindles, DeJoy said he hopes some younger adults will help carry the Franklin County Agricultural Society’s torch, help plan the annual fair and perhaps bring in some new attractions.
“I’d love to see some younger people get involved. I’m 63, so I don’t really know what the 20-somethings want to see at the fair. I would love that input,” DeJoy said. “We are known as probably the best fair as far as entertainment goes in almost all of Massachusetts. We really push the entertainment, but without the agriculture, we wouldn’t be here.”
For more information about the Franklin County Fair, visit fcas.com.
