WINDSOR — Tiny horses and towering trucks are among the new fairground features at this year’s annual Windsor Fair, the capital region’s largest summer fair.

It starts its nine-day run Sunday.

Additional Images

A.J. Larrabee, left, and John Perkins move fence sections around a sheep barn on Tuesday as they set up for the Windsor Fair that opens Sunday. The fair runs from Sunday through Sept. 1 at the Windsor Fair Grounds on Ridge Road (Route 32). Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Windsor Fair Admission

General admission:

$7 the first Sunday-Thursday and Monday (Labor Day)

$9 for Friday, Saturday, and the second Sunday

Children under 16 are free

Senior Citizens (60+) $3 on Woodmen’s Day Aug. 25 & Senior Citizens Day Aug. 28

Season pass is $50

More information: www.windsorfair.com

The first day of the fair — Get Acquainted Day — includes the fair’s first miniature horse show. It starts at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Prime Show Barn, with classes for both children and adults.

Later in the week, another new event features some considerably bigger entertainers — monster trucks. The trucks, including the Maine-based and lobster-shaped Crushstation truck, are scheduled to perform 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31.

“They crush cars, they do wheelies, the same type of show they do on TV,” Tom Foster, fair president, said of the monster truck shows. The monster truck shows have an admission charge of $5 on top of the fair’s admission price.

Friday night features past fair favorites Don Campbell Band and Maine comedian Bob Marley, also for a $5 admission charge, followed by a fireworks display above the 275-acre fairgrounds off Route 32.

Bob Marley “fills the place every time he comes,” Foster said, adding that Marley has performed at the fair at least five times. “It’ll be real family-oriented type of entertainment.”

New musical acts this year include Malinda Liberty and the Poulson Sisters.

A repurposed building on the grounds will give attendees a sheltered spot from the sun or rain where they can eat and take in musical performances and other demonstrations. Foster said the former 4-H building will be full of picnic tables where fairgoers can sit and take a break from strolling the fairgrounds.

The 4-H exhibitions will be moved to the main exhibition hall.

The fair runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.

Last year heavy rain soaked the fairgrounds and forced the fair to shut down early, but Foster said they’re hoping for better weather this year. The weather.com forecast calls for sunny, or mostly sunny, days until next Sunday, when there may be showers.

Last year’s wet weather had one benefit — it contributed to an especially heavy purse for first prize in this year’s Merle Vanner Memorial Trophy horse pulling sweepstakes. The event begins at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 1.

“Because the rain last year closed the fair down (on the day of the horse pulling sweepstakes) last year, we saved the premiums we were going to do and added them to this year, so first prize is big money,” Foster said of the two $2,000 first place awards in two classes.

The fair features daily harness racing and a bevy of agricultural-themed events, competitions, demonstrations and displays.

While many farmers take their horse, steer and oxen pulling seriously, many events are closer to silly than serious.

For example, Aug. 31 events include an animal costume class and the Political Pull, in which Maine politicians participate in a cow milking contest.

And the fair has a variety of food and game booths and a midway of rides.

“It’s a place where kids and adults can come see what agriculture is all about,” Foster said. “We’ve got something for everyone. We try to keep our admission prices down. We’re one of the lowest in state of the major fairs. And we don’t charge to park cars. We try to make our fair affordable.”

A fair program and more information about events and performers are available online at www.windsorfair.com.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @kedwardskj

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