Marshfield Fair, opening August

143rd Marshfield Fair, opening August 20, offers 10 days of family fun – After 30 years of experiencing the Marshfield Fair, volunteer Lowry MacLean can easily name her favorite part of the 10-day event: Thursday night, before Friday’s official opening.

Thursday night’s the night!”
When a group of local farmers started the Marshfield Fair back in 1867, the event was part farmers’ market and part farm entertainment, according to Carlton Chandler, longtime director of the Marshfield Agricultural Society and secretary/treasurer of the fair
“There were events like horse shoe pitching and racing from point A to point B.”

“The horse racing was a big part of it,” said Chandler, recalling total crowds in excess of 200,000. Today’s fair, he said, features strong elements of agriculture, horticulture and arts and crafts.
New at this year’s fair will be an expanded blues festival, Chandler said.

Roni Lahage, the fair’s director of horticulture, said visitors could expect the bottom floor of aggie hall to beam daily with fresh floral arrangements.

Fair tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Seniors, 65 and older get in free on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and children 12 and under get in free on Wednesday, Aug. 25