| SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 -- Wallingford Grange is gearing up for its 84th annual agricultural fair, with this year marking the 50th chicken barbecue.
The fair is slated for Sept. 15 at the Wallingford Grange Hall, 586 Center St.
“It’s a small, local agricultural fair,” said Janet Haller, Wallingford Grange secretary.
For a small fair, there’s a lot of variety.
Judges, who are are experienced in their categories, Haller said, will award blue and red ribbons to entries of fruits, vegetables, including the largest pumpkin, flowers, both garden and houseplants, and pine cone wreaths.
There’s also categories for baking, candy, canning and needlework, including a quilt contest sponsored by the State Fair Association.
Baking specials including best apple pie and best collection of bakery, which includes a cake, a pie, bread and a dozen cookies.
In all categories, there are both adults and junior levels, but age cut-offs vary and kids are welcome to compete with the adults.
Arts and crafts has junior age groups only, for ages 5-8 and 9-15.
Entrants can participate in a premium sweepstakes with a monetary prize. Every blue ribbon is worth two points and red ribbons are one point. The most points wins the check.
The public can take home produce and other items in an auction.
There is no charge for entry to the fair.
Judging begins at 10 a.m. The tag sale starts at noon, which is when the public usually arrives.
Dinner is from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and the event wraps up at 9 p.m.
The Grange prefers dinner reservations. Tickets to the dinner are $13 for adults, $6 for children younger than age 12 and free for children under age 5.
Parking at the Grange hall is limited, but more parking is available on side streets.
Wallingford Grange is an agricultural fraternal group. Grange organizations sprang up after the Civil War to help both northern and southern farmers recover from the war, and Wallingford’s was founded in 1885.
The hall on Center Street was dedicated in 1933. Since then, with the exception of one year during World War II, the Wallingford Grange has hosted an annual fair.
For more information or dinner tickets, call Haller at 203-314-6922 or 203-269-0351.
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