Fryeburg Fair runs from Saturday Sept 27 – Sunday Oct 5, 2025
The Fryeburg Fair and all other Maine fairs are governed by the state licensing board. This year a new Director has been appointed by the Governor and there are regulations to be enforced regarding the judging and premiums that have not been followed for many years. Evidently the regulations have been on the books all along, but interpreted by each fair differently regarding judging and premiums. The regulations state that judging cannot commence until the fair opens per the date to which the fair is licensed to operate. Fryeburg Fair at present is licensed Sunday to Sunday, so to be clear this has nothing to do with Fryeburg extending the fair by one day.
For many, many years, judging was done the day prior to the official Fair opening day, in order to have the process completed before fair attendees were present and the fair experience was not interrupted by judging, which cuts off the exhibits to the attendees. This year the Fair must follow the regulations as to not lose premiums, which are paid to the exhibitors. The long and short of this is, we will be forced to do the judging while the Fair is in operation, not an ideal situation. This year we will have to begin judging Sunday morning September 28, which will satisfy our licensing dates. It will be necessary to make adjustments for the peoples choice voting by the public, making it fit around the tree and wreath judging.
Trees & wreaths can be brought to the fair no later than Friday September 26th at 5 pm. Thursday the 25th we will be at the Christmas tree booth all day also, 8am to 5pm to accept trees and wreaths. The peoples choice can start Saturday morning because there are no premiums associated with it, and then finish after the wreath and tree judging on Sunday. If this is successful we should be close to our regular schedule.
Questions, thoughts, call Gary Fisher:
207 322-8716 or alonghere492@gmail.com