Consider this fair warning.

There will be crashing cars, squealing pigs, flying frying pans and bloomin’ onions across Maine this fall. Plan accordingly.

Though Maine’s two dozen or so agricultural fairs stretch from June to October, the fall fairs seem a little different. Temperatures are cooler, the leaves are turning and there’s a palpable feeling of nostalgia in the air.

Most of the fall fairs are in southern and central Maine, so it’s pretty easy to find one near you. Here is a list of Maine’s fall fairs and what to expect at each.

Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair, Thursday-Sunday

1450 Bangor Road, Clinton. clintonlionsfair on Facebook

The self-described “Biggest Little Fair in the state” features rides, exhibits, animals, truck and tractor pulling and lots of food. On Sept. 10 there are two demolition derbies, including one for kids in tiny cars followed by one for their dads, in bigger cars.

Litchfield Fair, Friday-Sunday

44 Plains Road, Litchfield. litchfieldfair.com

Events and activities include steer and draft horse pulling, butter-making demos, an apple pie contest and a carnival midway. It’s also a great place to see the various pig-related sports Maine fairs are known for. On Sept. 11 for instance, there’s a pig scramble at 5:30 p.m. followed by pig racing at 6:30 p.m. The scramble is where kids chase squealing pigs around the pen trying to catch them, just like on the farm when a piglet gets loose. The races involve training the pigs to come running (or at least walking quickly) toward their favorite treats.

Oxford Fair, Wednesday-Sept. 19

67 Pottle Road, Oxford. oxfordcountyfair.com

Following a trend toward giving youngsters a chance to do what adults do at the fair, there’s a junior fireman’s muster this year, on Sept. 16. Organized by members of the West Paris Fire Department, the event will let kids see what it’s like to work with hoses and other firefighting equipment. There are plenty of animals, exhibits, a museum of fair history and a Woodsmen’s Day on Sept. 18. That’s when skilled axmen (and women) compete in traditional lumbering skills, like crosscut sawing, tree felling or ax throwing.

New Portland Lions Club Agricultural Fair, Sept. 17-20

280 School St., New Portland. newportlandlionsfair.com

This fair has a real small-town feel, partly because it’s a real small town (population 766). It’s also younger than a lot of Maine’s fairs, having started in 1931. This year’s event includes a cornhole tournament, petting zoo, lawn mower races, a mud run, ox pulling, carnival rides, food and live music. On Sept. 20 there’s mutton busting, where kids ride an adult lamb.

Farmington Fair, Sept. 20-26

292 High St., Farmington. farmingtonfair.org

This fair has all the tried and true fair stuff, like a steer pull, a sheep show, horse racing, a pie-eating contest, rides and food. A few unusual events include barrel racing and the Cirque Cyber aerial show on Sept. 20, the “drag your neighbor” drag races on Sept. 21 and a monster truck jamboree on Sept. 23.

Common Ground Country Fair, Sept. 25-27

294 Crosby Brook Road, Unity. mofga.org

Common Ground stands out for its focus on sustainable living and organic farming. So there’s a lot of demos and lectures, with more than 1,000 exhibitors and speakers scheduled. There are also fun, silly things, like the Garden Parades, where people march dressed like vegetables. Then there’s the Truman Games Manure Pitch Off, inspired by President Harry Truman, his earthy vocabulary and his low tolerance for baloney (to put it politely.)

Cumberland County Fair, Sept. 27-Oct. 3

197 Blanchard Road, Cumberland. cumberlandfair.com

This fair, which began in 1869, has all the elements small town farmers’ fair, plus some pretty splashy stuff too — and it’s only a 20-minute drive from downtown Portland. There’s a sugarhouse, blacksmith demos, livestock shows, pig racing and pig scrambles and ox pulling. But there’s also a professional rodeo, a freestyle motocross show, a midway and fireworks. One of the fair’s signature events is the giant pumpkin contest, beginning around 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 27. The current record holder is WGME meteorologist Charlie Lopresti, whose pumpkin in 2024 weighed in at 2,070 pounds.

Fryeburg Fair, Oct. 4-11

1154 Main St., Fryeburg. fryeburgfair.org

One of the biggest and best-known fairs, Fryeburg Fair often attracts about 200,000 people. Weekends can be especially crowded, including Saturday when the big parade is held. On Monday, the Woodsmen’s Field Day draws competitors from all over the Northeast.

There’s a big midway, rides, food, rows and rows of barns full of animals, antique farming equipment and a petting zoo. One of the more unusual and funny activities is the duck herding demos, on Oct. 4 and 5, where border collies are training to herd ducks before they move on to sheep.