The North Haven Fair Begins Thursday

“Better Than Ever” asserts the website regarding the North Haven Fair, which, now in its 70th year, is almost here. 

Rosie’s Racing Pigs will return, as will the Pisgah Mountain Primitives, who demonstrate pioneer life.  The Northeast Wrestlers, rides, live music, the exhibits, the food—all combine as the cluster of events that begin Thurs., Sept. 6.  The fair, which takes place at the North Haven Fairgrounds, runs through Sun., Sept. 9. 

“I don’t tell people how I train the pigs,” said Roger E. Defoce, who lives in Fall River, Mass.  A former Ringling Bros. trapeze artist, Defoce will once again bring four pigs down to race along a 70-foot track.  He also has one that performs.

Defoce, who learned how to train pigs when he was with the circus, has quite a distinguished pedigree with porcine creatures.  He owned and trained all the pigs on the television show Green Acres, and he helped to train the pigs on the movies Babe and its sequel Babe: Pig in the City. 

Defoce said this year he might try to bring ducks with him.  “My ducks are special ducks—racing ducks,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll be dressing them up,” he continued, noting that he has wardrobes that turn the ducks into well-known figures ranging from Queen Elizabeth to Cher. 

Still, he said he might try a duck show, even if only every other day.  At the moment, he, said, he was short-handed.

The rides, including a Ferris wheel and another called the Polar Express, will anchor the site, although the entertainment on stage will shift, with a number of different performers and musical styles.  Back again are The Navels, who create self-described “karaoke on steroids,” as the band encourages members of the audience to join it on stage.

The pie eating contest, the skillet toss, the exhibits, animals from oxen to chicks—the festivities go on and on.  And, in addition to The Navels,  performers from the area include shoreline resident Beau Badrick, who will appear Friday.  The deejay company Double J. Sound, which will appear on Thursday, is from North Haven.

Martha Vincent, president of the fair, said about 40,000 to 50,000 persons typically visit the fair.  Vincent said planning for it begins early each year.   For the second year, she said the fair would offer a kids’ pedal tractor pull contest consisting of small tractors that children six and under can ride.  She hoped that they and others will remain dry while visiting the fair.

“We’ve had rain the past few years,” she said.  “I keep praying for good weather.”

The dates and times for the fair, which takes place at the at 300 Washington Ave., are:

• Sept. 6 (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
• Sept. 7 (3 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
• Sept. 8 (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
• Sept. 9 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.).  

Adult admission to the fair is $10.  Admission for children under 12 is free if that child is accompanied by an adult.  Free parking is available at the fairgrounds.