Goshen Celebrates 110th Annual Fair
Image Description: Around 30,000 people attended the 110th Annual Goshen Fair at the Goshen Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend / Eric Warner
The Goshen Fairgrounds hosted the 110th Annual Goshen Fair on Labor Day weekend. Roughly 30,000 Goshen locals, Connecticut residents, and even people from out of state attended the fair to take part in its multitude of fun activities, delicious cuisine, and promotional vendors. According to Scott Fraher, president of the Goshen Agricultural Society which runs the fair, around 30,000 people attend the fair annually. This figure represents only people who paid for admission tickets for the weekend, not including vendors and other fair staff.
First established on September 5th, 1910, the Goshen Fair initially began as a simple horse race competition along what would later become Route 63. The fair quickly became popular and soon the fair evolved to feature crop and livestock competitions and celebrated all aspects of agriculture life.
Image Description: Awesome Apple Crisp vendor Todd Lavigne stands outside his food trailer with his coworkers as they serve warm apple crisps topped with ice cream and whipped cream / Eric Warner
This year dozens of food vendors kept attendees fed with a variety of irresistible carnival food. “Keeping everybody happy, that's my favorite part, serving great quality food,” said Awesome Apple Crisp vendor Todd Lavigne. “It’s a great fair. It’s a lot of local people and people from far away. They have a lot of different things to do. They’ve got a lot of great food. They’ve got a lot of great entertainment. They’ve got good concerts, good livestock, 4H, horses. So it’s a good fair all the way around. Lavigne served customers warm apple crisps topped with scoops of vanilla cream and fresh whipped cream. Other vendors offered fair classics such as fried dough, fried Oreos, cotton candy, pulled pork sandwiches, and more! Attendees may have encountered some unusual food including potato pancakes and giant pickles on a stick. “Everybody loves our pickles,” said Dave Smith from Ma & Pa’s Old Fashion Kettlecorn. “I’ve worked here for two years but this has been here for 15 years.” Ma & Pa’s Old Fashion Kettlecorn served attendees giant pickles on a stick along with kettle corn made the old fashion way in a cast iron pot stirred with sugar in a booth near the main entrance of the fair.
Food wasn’t the only way people were entertained, however. Several carnival rides were available for attendees to ride including merry go rounds, swings, the platform ride Avalanche, and, of course, the signature ferris wheel. On top of those rides, people were able to test their aim and strength in many carnival games to win all kinds of giant plush animals. These included water guns, balloon darts, miniature basketball, and a pellet gun range! Guests were also able purchase locally grown crops and crafted items from other vendors. Many of the crops were entered into competitions for their size and overall consistency. Guests could purchase many of the award winning crops following the competitions such as Plainville resident Gary Vincent’s fair record breaking 1,274 lb giant pumpkin. Other vendors sold honey-based food and products in addition to man-made bee hives, maple syrup products, sheds, furniture, and Goshen Fair t-shirts, among many other items.
The Goshen Fair is famous for its livestock competitions and showcases and this year’s fair was no different. Dozens of farmers, ranchers, and 4H students brought their livestock to participate in showmanship competitions including beef and dairy cows, goats, sheep, and horses. Poultrymen were additionally able to show off their chicken, geese, and waterfowl for potential buyers or for children to view. Local zoo R.W. Commerford & Sons brought a pair of camels, alpacas, llamas, goats, sheep, ponies, and zebu steers for children to feed and interact with.
Image Description: Samuel A. Hudak III conducts the band Northwest Connecticut Band to play various film, march, ragtime, and show music from the Goshen Fairgrounds’ new gazebo / Eric Warner
Along with the food vendors and livestock, attendees were able to view engaging shows including tractor pulls, wood cutting competitions, live magic and music performances. “We try to play stuff that lots of people like. We play marches. We play all kinds of things: show music, movie music…,” said Northwest Connecticut Band conductor Samuel A. Hudak III. “We did music from the Pirates of the Caribbean, we’ve got the Phantom of the Opera [and Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens]. You name it. We got a whole wide range of things that we play including some of the real old-style ragtime and marches.” The Northwest Connecticut Band is made of musicians from across New England and has performed at the Goshen Fair annually since 1965. This year the band, made up of trombones, trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and various other brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments, performed at the fair’s new gazebo for the first time after the original was torn down in April, earlier this year. “The fair looks like it’s just as big, in fact growing,” Hudak added. “Seems like they have more different vendors and more different apps and a whole lot going on so the Goshen Fair is on the move.” While Hudak, a Connecticut native, has since moved to Massachusetts, he still makes sure to come back every year to perform for Goshen Fair fans and newcomers.
Image Description: Warren blacksmith Josh Reynolds works on crafting a steel candle snuffer from his coal powered forge / Eric Warner
Attendees were additionally able to view displays of historical farming and crafting techniques. “I’m glad that we’re keeping the tradition going with traditional exhibits like blacksmithing, and old engines and antique stuff because that’s a link to the past and I think that’s the attraction,” said Warren blacksmith Josh Reynolds. “It’s what keeps people coming. If it’s a modern fair like Bridgewater or something else, there’s no old-time connection and I think that’s important.” Reynolds previously worked with former First Selectman Bob Valentine, a fellow blacksmith, and has been coming to the Goshen Fair since 1993. He forges steel gates, hooks, fireplace cranes, door hinges, candle chambersticks, and artistic railings with a coal fueled forge and anvil. Reynolds often makes railings with unique designs such as incorporating metal grape vines and leaves into the craft.
The Goshen Fair is not just an event to have fun and meet friends but it’s a time to keep older American traditions alive and ensure the next generations learn their local history. “By coming to the fair, you learn history, you learn that connection of why things work. The fair has a sample of all kinds of things from history, even sayings…,” said Reynolds. “Of course, the saying [when forging] is, ‘strike while the iron is hot’. Because it applies to so many things, it gets lost from its origin. So, by coming to the fair you can learn little tidbits of history.”
The 111th Annual Goshen Fair will be held from August 31st to September 2nd, 2024 at the Goshen Fairgrounds.
Senator Richard Blumenthal visits with Goshen News Staff Michael Edison (left) and Eric Warner at the paper's booth
First Selectman Todd Carusillo, Selectman Dexter Kinsella, and Senator Richard Blumenthal at the Goshen News booth
Planning & Zoning Commissioner Lu-Ann Zbinden visits The Goshen News
