Family traditions continue at 140th Sandwich Fair

SANDWICH — The Sandwich Fair is in its 140th year. This weekend, tens of thousands of people flocked to the fairgrounds to create new memories, some carrying on generational traditions.

Maverick Eldridge, of Freedom, grew up going to fair, making lasting memories each year. Now, as an adult, he continues that tradition as a dad, bringing along his 2-year-old daughter Louanna.

“It’s kind of a surreal moment,” Eldridge said. “I remember as a kid doing this myself.”

His friends, Cory and Laura Sterling, and their daughter Cali Sterling, were visiting from Champlain, New York, and taking it all in for the first time. They hit the rides on Friday, and enjoyed some French fries, but what stood out to Cory were the animal pulls.

“We don’t really have that where we are,” Cory said.

Emily Lavallee was with her husband, Chris, and two children, Quinn, 2, and Conor, 6. Her family has been coming since the 1950s, and she recalls coming to the annual Columbus Day Weekend event as a child. They’re from Norwich, Connecticut, and her grandfather passed along property, in Sandwich, to her and her siblings.

Like Eldridge, she is now sharing something she grew up loving with her children.

“I have so many good memories coming here,” Lavallee said.

The family was also there on Friday night for the rides. Chris said Saturday, “today is exhibit day.” Conor was excited to see award-winning pumpkins on display inside one of the buildings. He also loved seeing the bunnies, and had a good time on a jungle gym.

Kristen Dwyer was with friends and family at the fair for the first time, but she's no stranger to the Lakes Region, as her parents own a spot in Laconia.

Dwyer brought her son 11-year-old son Owen, and they were joined by friends Landon and Evelyn Horton — 9 and 7, respectively— and Vivienne and Evelyn Levesque, who are 11 and 7. Like many others at the fair, they were amazed by a 625-pound pumpkin on display between the midway and sheep stables.

This is the type of fun that goes on year after year at one of the oldest fairs in the Granite State, with an interesting history since it started in 1886. It began as an agricultural day where local farmers could trade and sell cattle, beginning with 184 yoke of oxen. All kinds of quirky events followed, ranging from a “baby contest” to a “coon hunt,” according the Sandwich Fair website.

While some faded over time, the fair added fruits and vegetable displays, baked goods, games, rides, live music, and a midway. Floats made their way down Main Street for the annual parade, and tractor and animal pulls became a big part of the event. Those remain to this day, and provide endless entertainment for people of all ages.

The fair eventually became a multi-day event, held over the holiday weekend.

One thing that never disappeared after all these years is the animals, with 4-H remaining a focal point of the Sandwich Fair. There were horses, turkeys, geese, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cattle, oxen and more on display, and in competitions, this year.

Maddie Briggs, a 17-year-old Prospect Mountain High School student who is graduating this spring, was riding a horse named Franklin in the event’s show ring. She rides at Lakes Region Riding Academy in Gilford, and her instructor, Julie Lawrence, was excited for her to take part in her first Sandwich Fair.

Briggs has been riding since she was 8, saying it all started when her grandmother got her lessons for her birthday. This was her first time riding Franklin at the fair, and said it was a nice change of scenery.

Franklin is owned by Tarrah Rowe, who also runs the horse shows at the Sandwich Fair. She grew up in Meredith, and has been riding with Lawrence since she was 8, as well. She loves the Sandwich Fair, because she gets to see friends and family, and horses, come back each year. “It’s the nostalgia of it all,” she said.

“I like watching the younger kids get started, and make the same core memories that we all had,” Rowe said.

Skylar Violette was there from Sutton, Massachusetts, part of the Sutton 4-H program. This was her third time competing at the fair. On Saturday, she was in a stable sheering a lamb named Wilson, who won first prize for “market lamb” at the Worcester County Fair in July.

Josh Lucas owns Lucas Family Farms, and was working the fair with his daughter, Claira. Claira was busy sanding the horns of her working steer, Joe, who is a lineback breed of cattle. They came from Orwell, Vermont, but Josh said he remembers coming to the Sandwich Fair 20 years ago. This was his first time back since, bringing his daughter to see what he enjoyed when he was younger.

“I like that it’s a little fair,” Claira said.

Josh grew up in Wilmot, and would come as a child with his family. Once he grew up, Josh started an 800-acre grazing operation.

“It’s nostalgic,” he said. “Not a lot has changed. It’s nice to see that not all things have to change.”

The fair includes a myriad of vendors, both indoors and outside, with all kinds of items to purchase. Caroline Connors runs C Line Designs, and she demonstrated how she makes all kinds jewelry and artwork, often with salvaged items.

“I am twisting, pounding and designing earrings, necklaces, bangles from upcycled materials such as copper, aluminum, old broken necklaces, upholstery fabrics,” she said. “It’s art.”

She made a bangle bracelet on the spot, and the process alone drew in at least one customer.

Connors has been an artist for about 40 years, and she’s been at the Sandwich Fair for six of them. She had her grandfather’s 100-year-old anvil and trusty tools with her.

“These are old tools,” she said. “They’re really lovely. You don’t get any better than that.”

Vikki Thelemarck was right around the corner repairing the wicker seat of a chair. Thelemark owns a chair restoration business, Thelemarck Chair Weavers, based in Albany. She said fairs like this are a good way for her to get clients, so they can see her work in action.

“I get to show people how it’s done,” she said.

Jinks Millspaugh is chair of baked goods at the fair, and was amazed at the nearly 100 contributions they had this year. This included baked treats from Inter-Lakes High School students.

Baked goods were judged Friday night, then out for the public to see throughout the weekend. While looks are a thing to behold for baked goods, in the end it mostly matters how it tastes. That’s how the judges evaluate them.

The baked goods were all auctioned off Monday, and proceeds benefit local food pantries. Millspaugh said they raised $1,900 in the auction last year.

Some go to the fair for the food alone. Whether it is a bread bowl or chowder, a piece of fried dough covered with cinnamon and sugar, or a fully loaded sausage sub, there are options for everyone.

Doug Avery was grilling sausages for Angelino’s Sausage House, a mainstay in the midway. He said he’s been coming to the fair for about 30 years. As Avery served up subs for eager customers, he was asked what keeps bringing him back, and his response was immediate.

“It’s the people,” Avery said.

Nearby, live music was filling the air. Some things about the Sandwich Fair don’t change; they just evolve.

There were days when Annie and the Orphans rocked the stage, now named in their honor. They played oldies and classic rock tunes, often from the 1960s, for decades. Frontman Anatole Paquette died this year, but he and the band helped pave the way for other musicians to play as attendees relax in the stands.

The Dan Fallon Band was onstage Saturday afternoon, playing a funky mashup of ‘90s hits like “No Diggity.” Other acts played throughout the weekend, as well.

Bryan Peaslee is president of the Sandwich Fair these days, and remembers the fun he had there as a child. It turns out he’s not the only one.

Peaslee was at the entrance of the fairgrounds midday on Saturday, looking at the impressive crowd entering. It was early in the weekend, but all signs pointed to another success.

“Last night was phenomenal,” Peaslee said. “Standing room only. This morning, the parking lots filled up as they always do by about 9 o’clock. So, everything’s just what we’d expect from a beautiful day in October.”

He said the whole community gets involved, including the schools, who had exhibits in the Smith Building. Inter-Lakes and Moultonborough Academy seniors also had booths in the midway, where they sold merchandise and food, respectively.

It’s even a family affair for Peaslee, as his mother-in-law was selling tickets Saturday morning.

Peaslee said the Sandwich Fair is “basically an anomaly,” and there’s just something about it that keeps people coming back every year.

“I don’t know what makes it so special, but there are people that will skip other ones for ours,” he said. “Peak foliage doesn’t hurt. October and 60 degrees doesn’t hurt. It does hurt us occasionally when it’s 22 degrees and snowing in October, but I think a lot of it, it’s such a broad but tight community around here. It’s really supportive. We’ve got so many people involved in the fair.”