The Agricultural Fair welcomed one and all to the West Tisbury fairgrounds over the course of four days, marking a high moment of summer for many Islanders and visitors alike.
The Agricultural Fair welcomed one and all to the West Tisbury fairgrounds over the course of four days, marking a high moment of summer for many Islanders and visitors alike.
The fair opened on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. and closed down on Sunday at 6 p.m. Each day was filled an endless array of options, from spending time with goats, sheep, chickens and a huge pig and her new piglets (born on opening day), to games of chance, amusement park rides, food delights and perusing fellow Islanders prize-winning art work, vegetables and flowers.
A butterfly stilt walker made her way around the grounds.
A butterfly stilt walker made her way around the grounds.
As kids flew through the air on the Swinger — a ride with suspended seats that rotate around the base – kids’ shoes would occasionally fly off due to the centrifugal force the ride creates.
“Usually, they do it on purpose,” said ride operator Hill Nickerson. “One or two of them will kick them off. I think it’s a rebellion.”
Mr. Nickerson smiled, noting that it was all part of the fun and games that come with going to the fair. He said getting to see kids enjoy themselves is the best part of working at the event.
Across the way, Sophie Cummings, 14, and Camden Welch, 15, lined up for the Twister, which spins groups of people seated in booths in different directions.
“This is the best part of the fair,” Sophie said.
4-H club is on the job.
4-H club is on the job.
Camden agreed, saying that she liked going on the rides with different groups of people every time.
“I like that you can get paired up with random people, it makes it more fun,” she said.
The merchandise tables were also a big draw all weekend long. Manager Kris Ivory has been selling T-shirts, posters and other goodies at the fair since she was 12 years old.
“Friday is usually the slowest day but it was enormous,” she said. “We were exhausted by the end of the day. We had a line going back all the way.”
Make some noise for the fair.
Make some noise for the fair.
This year, the team introduced tank tops and crop tops, something that visitors had asked for in the past, according to Ms. Ivory. They also double ordered kids’ T-shirts to match previous feedback. By Sunday afternoon, all the adult T-shirts were sold out and there was only one bin of vintage shirts left.
Ms. Ivory said she has seen the demand for merchandise increase throughout the years.
“We have people who come every year and buy a tote bag every year,” she said.
First at night.
First at night.
Wandering the fairgrounds and catching up with friends after a busy summer is a part of the fun. This year the Fair Moover, a six-person golf cart, helped shuttle any fairgoers in need around the property. The idea was hatched by Agricultural Society honorary trustee Bill Haynes.
“Fifteen years ago or so, my wife was walking around and twisted her ankle and was [complaining] about walking on the grounds and said it wasn’t easy,” he said. “I agreed and thought about it, and I brought it up at one of the meetings and said, ‘we ought to do something.’”
Mr. Haynes believes the Fair Moover will return in the future.
Skillet toss is a heated competition.
Skillet toss is a heated competition.
“We took quite a lot of people around, so it seemed to be successful,” he said.
The skillet toss always draws a crowd of participants and spectators. This year the competition was dedicated to John “Chippy” Mancuso, who died in January. Mr. Mancuso brought the skillet toss to the fair 25 years ago with his wife, Joan Mancuso, after they saw the event at an off-Island fair.
Emily deBettencourt, the Oak Bluffs harbor master, had the farthest toss with a heave of over 47 feet.
Hanging with the barn animals.
Hanging with the barn animals.
Veronika Buckley emerged as the overall champion, launching the eight-inch cast iron skillet 42 feet and two inches in the final round of head-to-head competition.
“I like the skillet toss because it’s totally unique...” Ms. Buckley said. “It’s been around for such a long time [and] it’s so nice to have something traditional.”
At Cozy’s Last Stand, customers lined up for sausages, meatballs and pickles on a stick. The stand has been a fair staple since the 1990s when it was started by Jim Pringle after his restaurant Cozy’s, which was once located on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs, closed its doors.
This year, the tradition continued under new leadership. Jim’s daughter, Julie Pringle, took the reins for the first time.
Catching air and all smiles.
Catching air and all smiles.
“It’s been a good fair,” Ms. Pringle said. “It’s nice to keep the tradition going and keep it in the family.”
She said this year’s fair was especially meaningful to her, but not just because of the food or family legacy. On Friday, while Ms. Pringle was busy behind the counter, her boyfriend of five years, Dean Lovewell, appeared at the stand unexpectedly. She thought he was still away on a business trip.
“He asks for the daily special and I’m confused because we don’t have a daily special,” Ms. Pringle said.
See you next year.
See you next year.
Then he pointed behind her, where a friend was holding a sign that read “Daily Special: Will You Marry Me?”
When she turned back around, Mr. Lovewell was on one knee, holding out a ring.
She said yes.
“It was the cherry on top of a good fair,” Ms. Pringle said.
Comments
Her parents are very happy
James Pringle VINEYARD HAVENHer parents are very happy too. Congratulations
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