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Date: 8/16/2023
WARE — This year marks the 76th anniversary of the Ware Grange Fair. For decades, the fair has been a fun community event for the entire family.
Every year the Ware Grange hosts this agricultural fair, providing residents with an opportunity to exhibit the products of their gardens and handiwork. Fairgoers can purchase baked goods, enjoy a supper, shop at the tag sale and buy local produce and other items at the auction. This year, the fair will take place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25 and 26, at the Ware Grange Hall, located at 297 Belchertown Rd. Doors will open at 9 a.m. on both days. A schedule of the day’s events is as follows:
Friday, Aug. 25
Saturday, Aug. 26
The children’s field events will include a fun and cooling game of water balloon toss, a slippery sponge race and a pie-eating contest.
To make reservations for the chicken barbecue dinner, call 413-284-1135 by Friday, Aug. 18. The dinner consists of a half chicken, a baked potato, corn on the cob, rolls and dessert. The cost of the dinner is $25, guests will have the option to eat outside under the tent or to take their food to-go.
Exhibits may be entered on Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. and Friday morning from 9-11 a.m. All exhibits must be in place by 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The exhibit hall will be closed to the public while the exhibits are being judged. Prize ribbons will be awarded to all winners in addition to the cash premiums offered in this list.
Judges look for vegetables and fruits that are uniform in size, shape, and color. The quality of the produce should be good, not too large or too small, and have a fine texture. The produce must be free from blemishes, such as cuts, bruises, insect injury or disease. It must also be clean, either washed or wiped as one would prepare it for the market.
Specific preparation instructions are given for certain vegetables. Carrots, turnips and parsnips must have their tops cut to ½ inch and the tap root left intact. Onions must have their tops cut to 1 inch and be wiped clean. Cabbage and cauliflower must have their roots cut off and the outer leaves removed. Squash and pumpkins must have their stems left on. Potatoes must be wiped dry, not washed. Tomatoes must be displayed with the stems removed if they are red, and with the stems left on if they are green. Peppers must all have the same number of lobes.
Canned goods must be of the best quality, uniform in size and have good color. The liquid in the jar must be clear, free from sediment, and the correct amount. The container must be uniform, clean, properly sealed and labeled.
Baked goods must be properly covered using transparent materials and accompanied by a recipe. They should be attractive, and have good color, texture and flavor.
Clothing and home furnishings must be in good condition, suitable for their intended use, well-made and attractive. They should be designed well, have good color, be original, and be easy to care for.
Visit waregrange.org for the full fair guide and fair rules.