Cheshire Fair kicks off Thursday

SWANZEY, N.H. — The Cheshire Fair takes place this weekend, running Thursday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Cheshire Fairgrounds. The annual event features agricultural exhibits, family activities, live musical entertainment, and grandstand motorsports. Agricultural highlights and livestock competitions run throughout all four days, including 4-H and open shows for dairy cattle, beef, sheep, goats, small animals, and poultry. The fairgrounds will also host draft horse skill contests, oxen shows, horse shows, and draft horse pulls. For daily entertainment, the Fanelli Midway opens at 10 a.m. with rides and games. Additional attractions across the grounds include Wood Wizard chainsaw carving, the Reptiles of New England exhibit, STEM activities, a foam party, and 4-H robotics demonstrations. Audience-participation activities feature a skillet toss, cupcake- and pie-eating contests, a pig scramble, the King Arthur baking contest, and Cow Plop Bingo. Grandstand events feature Team East BMX on Thursday evening, a tractor pull on Friday afternoon, a 4x4 truck pull on Saturday afternoon, and the Demolition Derby on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Live music and performances across the Tavern and Community stages include acts such as Lake Effect, Rust and Ruin, The Detours, WailOn, Carson Janik, Doug the Devil Stick Man, and a 250th Celebration Cavalcade. Event Details: Hours: Gates open at 8 a.m. daily. General Admission: $15. Youth & Seniors: $5 for children ages 5–11 and seniors 62 and older. Free for children 4 and under. Military: Free admission daily with valid ID. Specials: Free admission for kids 11 and under on Thursday, July 30, and free admission for seniors 62 and older on Sunday, Aug. 2. Parking: Free on-site parking.