Compiled by

Irene Wheeler, Historian

The total attendance for the 2006 Fair was 173,280. This was because of the weather. With poor weather on Saturday and Sunday we had our best attendance on Friday with 47,709, not a record, and Monday with 67,312 a record for that day. Saturday had only 32,383 and Sunday only 25,877 attendees. There were reports of cars coming to the Fair on Monday talled in traffic as far away as a mile down route 395 and past the Stop and Shop in Putnam. Many were stuck for over an hour in stop and go traffic. The lead act, Blood, Sweat and Tears was late because they got stuck in traffic. Even with poorer weather, people came on both weekend days. Someone told me they didn’t mind the rain because there was room to see and do everything they wanted.

The sand sculpture was the newest addition and it got a lot of attention. People on Friday and Saturday were worried that the rain would wash it away. It withstood the weather and remained standing until Celebrating Agriculture Day in September. At about 15 feet high with a rooster on the roof of a barn, with pigs and other farm animals it was a sight to see.

There was lots to see from Joan Jett and the Blackhearts to the Horse Show and the Ox and Horse pulls, the one-lungers chugging away to the New Antique Barn, the rides and fairway to the eats and Mike Bogdanski’s Martial Arts show on the South Stage. "Tolerance" and the "Great Garage Band", two local bands, were great additions. With a hypnotist, the go-cart racing and Noodles the Clown, Spam Contest, pie eating contests and many other contests there was something for everybody.

I can’t forget the Agriculture Exhibition Building with its many exhibits and the beef/dairy, sheep, poultry, rabbits and pig areas there was plenty to see.

Despite the weather it was a great fair.