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History of the fair since 1846
T
he Vermont State Fair is an agricultural fair managed by The Rutland County Agricultural Society. The first Vermont State Fair took place in 1846, making it one of the oldest state fairs in the United States. Originally named the Rutland State Fair, the event started out as a one day event. The first fair took place in a field near Castleton, with Fredrick Button as the first President of the Rutland County Agricultural Society. The fair became popular enough that, in 1849, the Rutland Railroad began putting extra cars on their trains to bring people from all over Vermont and Western New York to visit. After moving around Rutland County for a few years, the Rutland Fair grew closer to Rutland City, sometimes setting up on land owned by John Cain (now Grove Street, north of Crescent) or on the old Baxter Estate. The Fair was given a permanent home in 1856. The land at 175 South Main St. in Rutland was originally known as the Rutland County Park. The fair, which was officially renamed in 1972 as the Ò Vermont State FairÓ is still held at this location today.
The Fair has had top name entertainers that included Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Conway Twitty,
Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Pride, Tayna Tucker, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels Band, Vince Gill, and Scotty McCreery.
Vermont State Fair circa 1941
Policies and lodging REFUND POLICY: Gate Admissions & Show Tickets: Absolutely NO Refunds will be given on admission tickets or show tickets for any reason. Other Policies: No Laser pointers, smoke bombs, or bomb bags. No roller blades, bicycles, or skateboards. No animals are allowed on the grounds unless they are part of an exhibit or they are ADA approved service animals. No alcohol consumed except in the Beer Garden located under big white tent in Promise Land. (old bingo location) Smoking is prohibited on the Fairgrounds except for in the designated smoking areas. No coolers are allowed on the grounds, please. All backpacks, purses, bags, etc. are subject to search. Fair Information: Guest Services is located to the left of the Grandstand Entrance. Handicapped accessible restrooms are located in the Men’s and Ladies’ Rooms near Gate B. Baby changing stations are located in the Men’s and Ladies’ Rooms near Gate B. ATM’s are located throughout the fairgrounds. Lodging - area hotels and motels: Hampton Inn - 802-773-9066 Holiday Inn - 802-775-1911 - Visit their website Red Roof Inn - 802-775-4303 Comfort Inn - 802-775-2200 Applewood Manor Bed & Breakfast - 802-468-5170 Best Western Plus Inn & Suites Rutland/Killington - 802-773-3200
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Welcome to the Vermont state Fair: an overview
O
riginally, the fair was a one day gathering held annually in Rutland County. It became long enough in 1859 to have its own home, which became the Vermont State Fairgrounds. The Fair became a three-day event before the turn of the century, and a six-day event in 1933. In 1926, it was ranked among the top ten best fairs in the United States. Like many state fairs, the fair closed in 1917 due to the influenza outbreak, and the fair remained a low key event during World War II. Later however, it regained its popularity. Originally, the fair was named the “Rutland Fair”, and that remained its name until 1972, when the name was changed to the “Vermont State FairÓ . Descriptions below are based on past fairs and may not apply to the 2015 edition.
Midway
The Midway rides have been supplied annually by Coleman Brothers Shows of Connecticut. Past suppliers have included Castlerock Shows, Silver Dollar Shows, Amusements of America, and World of Mirth Shows. The fair is currently in operation of finding a new midway for the fair. Many rides that appear each year are the Carousel, Ferris Wheel, and 1,001 Nachts. The fair may or may not host a Midway this year.
Entertainment
The fair also contains numerous entertainment. Most often the entertainment is an organized event. Note that this section is based on the events of past fairs and may not apply to the 2015 fair.
Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
Pigs race around a small track to get to a bowl of food. There are three races, each with a different breed of pigs. An announcer talks about the pigs as they race. This offering may or may not be held this year.
Pig Rooters
During each race, a child member of the audience is selected to come up to where the announcer is. While there, the announcer asks he/she questions, such as, Do you like the pigs?, Do you like your mom?, and if he/she says yes, the announcer might say, What do you like better? Afterward, he/she receives a number of prizes, like a necklace or candy. This offering may or may not be held this year.
Bike Giveaway
Ronald McDonald’s Bike Giveaway is an annual once a year event in which tricycles and two different sizes of boys and girls bikes donated by local businesses are raffled, along with two grand prizes. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
4 - 2015 Vermont State Fair Volunteers help bring the bikes over to the winners who make their way down off of the bleachers to receive them and determine the winners of the grand prizes and (by adults) throw t-shirts during “t-shirt tossesÓ . This offering may or may not be held this year.Tickets Tickets of different colors for the raffle are given out for free at the entrance to the Pepsi Grandstand, an area building space for various shops etc. and that contains a large stand of bleachers on the rear exterior. There are five different types of tickets: Tickets for tricycles, for young children aged one to three; Tickets for twenty-inch boys’ bikes, for boys aged four to ten; Tickets for twenty-inch girls’ bikes, for girls aged four to ten; Tickets for twenty-six inch boys bikes, for boys aged eleven to fourteen; And tickets for twenty-six inch girls’ bikes, for girls aged eleven to fourteen. One may only receive one ticket for each type of bike.
prize raffles is by most one’s opinions of less value than the second prize (e.g. the first prize may be composed of a portable DVD player along with two movies, two board games and a bocce set, and the second prize may be composed of a wii, along with a two wii games, several happy meal coupons and several fair passes). A local rather renowned person, such as an entrepreneur, draws the tickets for these prizes while looking away, to prove that he/she is not being selective. Raffles may or may not be held this year.
“T-shirt Tosses”
At two different points in time selected by Ronald, bundled t-shirts are thrown by hand into all different sections of the audience. This offering may or may not be held this year.
Raffles
Petting zoo
Tricycle and Bicycle Raffles
Dining
All of the raffles take place at a stage behind the Grandstand. Audience members are seated on the bleachers. Ronald McDonald announces all of the raffle winners. Raffles may or may not be held this year.
At the start of the event, the raffles for the tricycles and bicycles take place. Volunteers help retrieve the tricycles and bikes for the large group of them. Raffles may or may not be held this year.
Grand Prize Raffles
Two grand prizes are raffled directly after the tricycle and bike raffles. Anyone who has already received a tricycle or bike for the previous raffle are still eligible for winning one of the grand prizes. The first
The fair’s petting zoo allows visitors to touch and feel animals. These animals include sheep, goats, a bull, and others. Nearby is a camel ride, and horse rides. This offering may or may not be held this year.
•Roxie’s: Roxie’s Famous French Fries, or Roxie’s is a restaurant located within the fairgrounds. The restaurant is known not only for its french fries, but also for its foot-long hotdogs, and is a popular place to eat amongst fairgoers. Roxie’s operates throughout the warmer months of the year, regardless of whether the fair is taking place. •MSJ Green Wave Cafe: Other food joints in the fair are popular for selling pizza, Italian sausages, soft drinks, fried dough, corn dogs, candy apples, cotton candy, popcorn, and other popular fair food items.
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Admisson
One can gain admission to the fair by purchasing admission or visiting on a free admission day. Ride admission may be gained by either purchasing a wristband or tickets, depending on what is up for purchase. Wristbands can be bought for various prices on certain days. These wristbands allow anyone wearing them to become a passenger on any ride or rides unlimited times while the fair remains open that day. On days in which wristbands are on sale, admission must be purchased. On other days, however, admission is free, but one must purchase tickets to become a passenger on any rides. Tickets may be purchased by certain numbers and certain rides costs a person wishing to become a passenger a certain number of tickets. Please check at the fair gate for changes in prices and ticket details.
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Fair Hours Agricultural Area
8 am to 8 pm Every Day
Midway & Exhibits
Friday, Sept. 4 - 5 pm - 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 5 - 10 am to 10 pm Sunday, Sept. 6 - 10 am to 10 pm Monday, Sept. 7 - 10 am to 10 pm Tuesday, Sept. 8 - Noon to 9 pm Wednesday, Sept. 9 - Noon to 9 pm Thursday, Sept. 10 - Noon to 9 pm Friday, Sept. 11 - Noon to 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 12 - 10 am to 10 pm
admission Prices Children 6 & Under FREE! Fair Entry Friday, Sept. 4 - $10 Saturday, Sept. 5 - $12 Sunday, Sept. 6 - $12 Monday, Sept. 7 - $12 Tuesday, Sept. 8 - $10 Wednesday, Sept. 9 - $10 Thursday, Sept. 10 - $10 (Veterans & Seniors - $5, Children 12 & Under - FREE!) Friday, Sept. 11 - $12 Saturday, Sept. 12 - $12
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casella grandstand tickets To purchase tickets, call the Show Office at 802-775-5200
Bluegrass Day $5
Demolition Derbies $10 Grandstand $15 Reserved Chairs #1 $20 Reserved Chairs #2 $125 Box #1 $110 Box #2
Garden Tractor Pulls FREE
Gospel Night FREE
McDonald’s Bike Giveaway FREE
Nicole Knox Murphy & Louie Allen Opening for Joe McGinness
Joe McGinness $5
Satin & Steel FREE
The Machine plays Pink Floyd $35 General Admission $240 Box Seats (6 seats) Purchase tickets by Aug. 31 and Gate Admission is included! A savings of $12!
Truck Pulls FREE
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Photos by Dave Allai
ire & Lou Varricchio
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casella grandstand entertainment This year’s lineup includes a great mix of country, rock, gospel and bluegrass music, as well as fair favorites, demolition derbies and pulling contests. Visit the fair each night for some spectacular live entertainment under the grandstand.
Nicole Knox Murphy & Louie Allen Monday, Sept. 7 at 6 pm Opening for Joe McGinness
Satin & Steel
Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 pm FREE SHOW!
Truck Pulls
Saturday, Sept. 5 at noon & 6 pm FREE ADMISSION!
McDonald’s Bike Giveaway Sunday, Sept. 6 at 1 pm FREE ADMISSION!
Demolition Derby Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7 pm $10 Grandstand, $15 Reserved Chairs #1, $20 Reserved Chairs #2, $125 Box #1, $110 Box #2
Joe McGinness
Monday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 pm $5 General Admission
Garden Tractor Pulls
Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6 pm FREE ADMISSION!
Gospel Night
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7 pm FREE ADMISSION!
Vermont Championship Demolition Derby
Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7 pm $10 Grandstand, $15 Reserved Chairs #1, $20 Reserved Chairs #2, $125 Box #1, $110 Box #2
The Machine plays Pink Floyd
Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 pm $35 General Admission, $240 Box Seats (6 seats) Purchase tickets by Aug. 31 and Gate Admission is included! A savings of $12!
Bluegrass Day
Saturday, Sept. 12 from 11 am to 6: pm $5 General Admission
New England Championship Demolition Derby Sept. 12 at 7 pm $10 Grandstand, $15 Reserved Chairs #1, $20 Reserved Chairs #2, $125 Box #1, $110 Box #2
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tHe sugarHouse stage Louie Allen
Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11 am, 1:30 pm, 5 pm & 8 pm; Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 am & 3:30 pm; Monday, Sept. 7 at 11 & 3:30 pm
Nicole Knox Murphy
Sunday, Sept 6 at 1 pm & 6 pm and Monday, Sept. 7 at 1 pm
Square Dancers
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7 pm
Country Man Band
Friday, Sept. 11 at Noon and 3:30 pm
Heart to Heart
Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 pm and Friday, Sept. 11 at 6 pm
Rocky McCoy
Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 pm
Nicole Knox Murphy
Free daily entertainment Circus Hollywood
Quality circus entertainment since 1952! Don’t miss this amazing show!
Racing Pigs
Place your bets on the fastest swine! A Vermont State Fair tradition!
Petting Zoo
Visit with exotic and friendly animals of all kinds. This kid-friendly exhibit is sure to bring a smile!
Pony Rides
A great stop for the kids. Mount up and take a ride!
The White Shadow
Comedy and trick basketball at its finest with Jason “White Shadow” Gibbons!
Al the Artist
Free caricatures drawn in minutes! Look for Al and his Cartoon Car throughout the fairgrounds!
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Vermont state Fair scHedule Vermont State Fair Sept. 5- 12, 2015 Join Us for Food, Farm & Fun Daily Free Entertainment
Circus Hollywood, Racing Pigs, Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, the White Shadow, Al the Artist and more.
Friday, Sept. 4
7:00 p.m. Satin & Steel - Casella Grandstand
Saturday, Sept. 5
11:00 a.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage Noon: Truck Pulls - Casella Grandstand Noon: Hill Country Cloggers 1 p.m. 4-H Goat Show 1:30 p.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage 3 p.m. Hill Country Cloggers 4 p.m. 4-H Fashion Review 4:30-5:30 p.m. Parade - the track 5 p.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage 6 p.m. Truck Pulls - Casella Grandstand 8 p.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage
Sunday, Sept. 6
9 a.m. Open Horse Show 10 a.m. 4-H Dairy Show
10 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Show 11 a.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage 1 p.m. Nicole Knox Murphy - Sugarhouse Stage 1 p.m. McDonald’s Bike Giveaway - Casella Grandstand 1 p.m. 4-H Dog Show 3:30 p.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage 6 p.m. Nicole Knox Murphy - Sugarhouse Stage 7 p.m. Demolition Derby - Casella Grandstand
Monday, Sept. 7
10 a.m. Open Gymkhana - Riding Arena 10 a.m. Open Ayrshire, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn Cattle Show - Show Tent 11 a.m. 4-H Sheep Show 11 a.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage 1 p.m. Nicole Knox Murphy - Sugarhouse Stage 3:30 p.m. Louie Allen - Sugarhouse Stage 6 p.m. Nicole Knox Murphy & Louie Allen - Casella Grandstand 7:30 p.m. Joe McGinness - Casella Grandstand
Tuesday, Sept. 8
1 p.m. Harness Racing 6 p.m. Garden Tractor Pulls - Casella Grandstand
Wednesday, Sept. 9
7 p.m. Gospel Night - Casella Grandstand 7 p.m. Square Dancers - Sugarhouse Stage
Thursday, Sept. 10
Children’s Ag Day! 11 a.m. Ox Pulls - Under 2500 lbs - Pulling Arena 11 a.m. VINS demonstration 1 p.m. VINS demonstration 1:30 p.m. Ox Pulls - Under 2900 lbs - Pulling Arena 4 p.m. Ox Pulls - Under 3300 lbs - Pulling Arena 6 p.m. Ox Pulls - FFA- Pulling Arena 6 p.m. Heart to Heart - Sugarhouse Stage 7 p.m. VT Championship Demolition Derby - Casella Grandstand
Friday, Sept. 11
11 a.m .Horse Pulls - Under 3100 lbs - Pulling Arena 2:30 p.m. Horse Pulls - 3300 lbs & under - Pulling Arena 5:30 p.m. William Weeks Memorial Showmanship Cattle Show - Show Tent 6 p.m. Horse Pulls - FFA - Pulling Arena 6 p.m. Heart to Heart - Sugarhouse Stage 7 p.m. The Machine plays Pink Floyd - Casella Grandstand
Saturday, Sept. 12
9 a.m. Open Horse Extreme Trail Competition - Riding Arena 9:30 a.m. Dustin Audet Memorial Pee Wee Showmanship Cattle Class - Show Tent 10 a.m. Open Holstein, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Lineback Cattle Show - Show Tent 10 a.m. Open Sheep Show 10:30 a.m. Steer & Ox Show - Pulling Arena 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Bluegrass Day - Casella Grandstand 1 p.m. Open Goat Show 7 p.m. New England Championship Demolition Derby
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Fair oFFicers President Roland McNeil - West Rutland president@vermontstatefair.org Vice Presidents Luey Clough - Ludlow Donald J. Chioffi - Rutland Town vicepresident@vermontstatefair.org Treasurer Donna Stearns - Center Rutland treasurer@vermontstatefair.org Secretary Christy Davis - West Rutland secretary@vermontstatefair.org Trustees David Fitzgerald - Pittsford Charlie Kelton - Westminster George Kuusela - Bellows Falls Richard McKirryher - Rutland Robert Sharp Sr. - Center Rutland Dennis Smith - West Rutland trustees@vermontstatefair.org Board of Directors Melanie Aguiar Sharon Bailey Edgar Cleveland Richard Giddings Andrea Hathaway-Miglorie Charlie Hemmenway Marsha Johnson Lonna Kantorski Bob Kelley Sr Jane Kelley Charlie Matteson Bernie McGee Louis McNeil David Murray Cash Ruane Bob Sharp Jr Harley Soulia David Stearns
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