There’s probably no better way to explore Maine than to check out some of the state’s small-town fairs. And summer is a great time to do it.

Maine’s agricultural fair season has already begun, with 14 of them scheduled between now and the end of August. There’ll be eight more in September and October.

The fair locations include out-of-the-way hamlets and scenic spots, from the western mountains and southern York County stretching all the way up the coast and north to Bangor and beyond.

Checking out a summer fair gives you a chance to discover some gem of a town you otherwise might never visit, like Waterford, Union or Harmony. It’s really the best way to learn the state’s geography, other than studying The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. (More on that later.)

Some have giant midways, demolition derbies or pig scrambles. What they all have in common are lots of farm animals, food, entertainment and small-town fun. Here’s a look at Maine’s summer fairs and what’s cool about their locales.

Ossipee Valley Fair: July 10-13

Held in tiny South Hiram, this fair is near the New Hampshire border and the White Mountains. From the fair, it’s a very short drive to the historic and much-photographed Porter-Parsonsfield Covered Bridge, built in 1859. The relatively new fair, which first opened in 1980, focuses on farming, food, arts and crafts.

Houlton Fair: July 11-13

Combining a visit to this fair with a camping trip at nearby Baxter State Park would give you a pretty wide range of Maine summer experiences. It would also let you explore Houlton, near the New Brunswick border. Some highlights this year include a farm-to-pizza challenge, a giant midway of rides, a Hula Hoop contest and rubber duck race, a pie-eating contest and a car show.

Waterford World’s Fair: July 18-20

This is Maine’s best-named fair. It’s in the very tiny village of North Waterford, surrounded by lakes and ponds, northeast of Fryeburg. A short drive north on Route 35 to Albany Township brings you to one of Maine’s coolest attractions, a signpost listing the mileage to several area towns named for other countries, including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Mexico and Peru. The sign was originally put up in the 1930s as a tourism promotion. Fair highlights include the pig scramble, the Axe Women Loggers of Maine and hands-on animal demos for kids.

Bangor State Fair: July 24-Aug. 2

Check out this fair and see how the other half lives — the northern half of the state, that is. One attraction not to be missed is the 31-foot-tall Paul Bunyan statue on Main Street. This is a pretty big fair, spread out over two weekends, featuring lumberjack shows and a demolition derby among its highlights.

Northern Maine Fair: July 30-Aug. 3

Another chance to explore Aroostook County, this fair is in Presque Isle, in the middle of potato country. Highlights include a beef auction, tractor and truck pulls, a demolition derby, a car show and a whoopie pie eating contest. In the Lil’ Lumberjacks area, kids can learn hands-on how to run a log loader, while learning about forestry.

Union Fair: July 30-Aug. 3

Here’s a two-for-one deal: the Union Fair’s run also includes Maine’s Wild Blueberry Festival. The tidy little town and its blueberry-covered hills are just a 20-minute drive from Camden. There will be various kinds of blueberry pie and blueberry baked goods contests and the crowning of  a Blueberry Queen. There will also be readings of the classic Maine children’s book “Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey, read by the author’s daughter, Sarah “Sal” McCloskey, on Aug. 3.

Topsham Fair: Aug. 5-10

Just off I-295 and located next door to Brunswick, this fair is probably the easiest one to get to for folks in Greater Portland. Take the Brunswick exit so you can go across the Androscoggin River and past an 1868 paper mill building, now housing a brewpub, among other things. The 171st edition of the fair includes rides, harness racing, scout troop derby cars, mud runs, midway and entertainment.

Skowhegan State Fair: Aug. 7-16

This claims to be the nation’s oldest “consecutively running” agricultural fair, having started in 1818. It’s in a revived, historic mill town on the Kennebec River that’s on the most direct driving route to Quebec City. This year’s schedule is not online yet, but highlights usually include demolition derbies, tractor pulls, a midway, harness racing and livestock exhibitions.

Acton Fair: Aug. 21-24

This small York County town surrounded by lakes and on the New Hampshire border has had a fair for 160 years. It’s right on your way, if you happen to be taking the scenic route to the charming resort town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, on Lake Winnipesaukee. The fair features a rabbit barn, dairy barn, a car show, worm composting for beginners, pig calling, milking demos, music and more.

Piscataquis Valley Fair: Aug. 21-24

If you missed the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in June, here’s another chance to visit Dover-Foxcroft, about two hours from Portland in the center of the state. You can camp, hike and swim at nearby Peaks-Kenny State Park. Livestock, food and demolition derbies are usually part of the fun.

Washington County Fair: Aug. 23-24

This fair is in the small Down East town of Pembroke, so you can pair a day at the fair with a trip along the state’s coast to Lubec or Eastport. It’s a family-friendly affair, with children’s games, train rides, a watermelon eating contest, sheep shearing and lots of animal exhibits.

Windsor Fair: Aug. 23-Sept. 1

Schedule a little light lobbying at the State House in Augusta, then drive 15 minutes east to Windsor for the fair. The fair has a lively entertainment lineup this year, including the Black Cat Hell Driver’s Stunt Auto Thrill Show, a Tom Petty tribute band and several other musical acts.

Blue Hill Fair: Aug. 28-Sept. 1

Too many people skip the Blue Hill peninsula on their way to Bar Harbor and Acadia. Don’t be one of them. It’s a quiet, beautiful slice of coastal Maine steeped in boatbuilding and maritime history. You can visit the historic and pretty towns of Castine and Stonington while in the area.

Harmony Free Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 1

In Maine, it’s possible to take a road trip where the town names are also moral principles. So after visiting the fair in Harmony, about 20 miles north east of Skowhegan, head toward the coast to find Unity, Freedom, Liberty and Hope. (Open your Maine Atlas and Gazetteer to pages 31, 22 and 14 for more details).