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News Feature

Blue Hill
Originally published in The Weekly Packet, September 6, 2012
Blue Hill Fair deemed a “success” with an eye already to next year

Highlights from the 2012 Blue Hill Fair

Brooksville resident Frank Snow enjoys some fair food from the Billing’s Booth. The Billings family has been serving tasty treats at the Blue Hill Fair since 1949.

Photo by Faith DeAmbrose

How could you not have fun? From the Ferris wheels to the Scrambler to the “Pop a balloon and win a prize” booths, the Midway at the Blue Hill Fair had something for fairgoers of all ages.

Photo by Anne Berleant

Ari Leach of Blue Hill, “Kitten” reserve champion of this year’s Women’s Skillet Toss at the Blue Hill Fair on Sunday, September 2.

Photo by Jessica Brophy

XDP diesel powered monster truck stole the show at this year’s fair.

Photo by Jeremiah Savage

Judy Brewer of the Stonington Fire Department sells pull-tab tickets at the Blue Hill Fair on Saturday, September 1. Brewer said attendance at the Fair seemed sluggish Friday and Saturday.

Photo by Jessica Brophy

Charlie Deans manned the Penobscot Fire Department booth well into darkness on Friday, August 31, at the Blue Hill Fair.

Photo by Anne Berleant

Alison Allen, of Penobscot, at top, ran her native fruit jam stand out of the local farm booth, handing out her blueberry jam on crackers to any and all passersby.

Photo by Anne Berleant

The Castine Grange took the blue ribbon for its exhibit on “The History of the Grange Stores” at the Blue Hill Fair. Creating the presentation were Gloria Hatch, Evelyn Thompson and Jackie Billings, with help from a host of other Grange members.

Photo by Faith DeAmbrose

by Faith DeAmbrose

The best thing about the end of the Blue Hill Fair is that preparations can then begin for next year’s fair, said Fair Superintendent Rob Eaton in an interview on Tuesday, September 4.

While a little tired and still on autopilot from the events of the long weekend, Eaton said that when all was said and done, the fair was a success. The culminating event—the Night of Destruction Monster Truck Show—lived up to the hype and drew a capacity crowd to the Grandstand Stage on Monday evening. Spectators were lined around the stage, up and down the fencing to the area and even standing on top of cars and vehicles to get a glimpse.

“There were a number of concerts in the area over the weekend,” said Eaton, “but only one monster truck show.”

Last year the fair association opted to replace its headliner band on Monday with the monster truck show to draw more people to the fair.

“It worked,” said Eaton, who reported that Monday’s attendance was quite high, especially for the 6 p.m. show start. Acknowledging the limited space available for the show, Eaton said that if they come back next year some changes would be made to allow more spectators.

The Blue Hill Fair Idol competition, in its second year, crowned Shaina Harvey of Augusta as the winner. Second place went to Isabella Morino of Mariaville and third place to Trudy Clark of Ellsworth, formerly of Deer Isle. Clark was the inaugural winner of last year’s contest.

Other popular events such as the Hot Dog Pig Racing, Disc Connected K-9’s and Maine Lumberjack Show drew crowds all weekend.

The loss of Beano games was something folks missed, said Eaton, “but that was beyond our control.” In its place, however, a space dedicated to local Maine-made crafts was well received.

With the exception of a spat of rain on Sunday, the weather cooperated to provide overall “average” attendance throughout the five days, said Eaton, who annually declines to give specific numbers for attendance and income.

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