OXFORD — If you’ve ever wanted to gamble, win a gun, drink fresh-pressed apple cider, ride the Zipper and enjoy a concert by a classic talent, the Oxford County Fair is that place.
The annual weekend-long party was a hub of energy Saturday as this year’s event was coming to a close.
Carnival rides and games were spread across the grounds, and expo barns showcased local livestock, crafts and produce. A 4-H livestock show was held, as well as horse-racing and a dice game.
Cars were stuffed into the parking lot and quite a ways around it, too. It seemed that everyone in town had come to see The Charlie Daniels Band perform — the same Charlie Daniels of “The Devil went Down to Georgia” fame.
The Family Fun Field was filled with locals of all ages, dancing to the famous fiddle and singing lyrics they knew.
Daniels played a number of his other hits, including “The Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues” and “Uneasy Rider.”
Other bands playing Saturday were Cold Blue Steel and Skosh.
Each barn around the perimeter of the fairgrounds featured its own theme. One contained tables where local organizations could advertise their services. Another featured local livestock, such as goats and emus. Others contained projects from local schools and 4-H members, next to another barn featuring arts and crafts.
Of course, no fair would be complete without food. Lobster rolls, handcut fries, cider and lemonade, soft pretzels and cotton candy were some of the many items available.
Jackson’s Sugarhouse out of Hebron was selling fresh-pressed apple cider and locally grown butternut squash.
There is also the Museum, stocked with donated antiques and original items, mostly from local families and businesses. Every year, volunteers dress in old-time outfits and talk about history and the background of Oxford County.
This year, that was accompanied by fresh popcorn made on an antique wood stove and homemade butter on crackers.
Local crystal and rock shops had a barn section, too. Erica Johnson of Seabrook Jewelry had a table containing pieces a customer could choose from to be made into custom earrings or a necklace. Johnson said it would have been easier to come to the fair with premade jewelry, but “creating your own gives you your own connection.”
“I have fun with it; it makes it all worthwhile,” Johnson said. “My favorite is when a little boy comes up and says he wants to make something for his mom.”
In between two of the barns was a booth featuring colorful paintings with a planet theme by spray-painting artist Eron Cunningham.
He said he got started with this idea after an injury left him unable to do much. He got sucked into a bad bout of depression, and then got in with some bad kids.
“My mom had a friend who did this — the spray painting — and that inspired me,” Cunningham said.
He said he’s always been interested drawing and art.
“This is my heaven,” he said. “This was my own little recovery process.”
Debbie Withee, one of the volunteers, was really excited for this year’s fair, she said. She, along with many other family members, volunteer every year.
“Today we’re giving my dad, Bob Withee, a thank-you cake,” she said. “This is his 12th year in a row volunteering here, and he passed on that passion to us. We live for this week.”
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