A fair share of fun for all

From the colorful gondolas of the Ferris wheel turning above the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society grounds in West Tisbury, a scene unfolded below: Families drifted between rides and food booths and the sounds of the buzzing amusement rides mingled with the bustle of animals in the barns, all of which are the familiar rhythms of the four-day Agricultural Fair, which celebrated 164 years this August. 

The annual fair, held at the Agricultural Hall on Panhandle Road, featured barn animals, events, contests where participants won bright blue, red, or yellow ribbons, and rides that ranged from slow-moving to scream-inducing. Food trucks lined up next to each other on the dusty ground, and visitors and Islanders alike milled around pop-up stands and waited in long lines for treats — some of which only come to the Island once a year. The annual event raises money for the Agricultural Society.

From the women’s skillet toss contest to baby piglets and a weaving tent, this year’s fair was another one for the books. The fair dates were changed this year so that it was held a week earlier than usual and didn’t compete with other annual events coming up at the end of August, like Illumination Night and the fireworks in Oak Bluffs. It was also the second year that Fiesta Shows, the largest traveling amusement provider in New England, took over preparation and management of the rides, food, and games for the fair.

After a soggy start, bright morning rays washed away the last signs of a summer storm on Thursday morning and gave way to bright, fair-worthy weather for the rest of the weekend. The opening parade was delayed by two hours to noon due to weather-related safety concerns on Thursday. 

The annual 4-H Parade and traditional Parade of Oxen plowed the way into a fun beginning to the fair as thousands of fairgoers lined up at the gates to watch the opening ceremony. 

Lines of electric children and teens mingled together as they awaited their turn on the most popular rides of the midway section, namely Top Gun, Zipper, and Pharaoh’s Fury. 

“I’m hyped about this ride because I’m with my friends, so it’s going to be fun, even though it looks scary from down here,” Emily DaSilva, a rising senior at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS), said as she stood in line for the Zipper, a ride where passengers rotate inside cages around a track while the cages themselves spin and flip unpredictably. 

Along Boothland, fair-goers savored the diverse food trucks and shops offered at the fair, surrounded by the familiar smells of longtime fair vendors, such as the West Tisbury Fire Department’s Burger Booth, which has served hamburgers at the Ag Fair for over four decades and was awarded “Best Food Booth” this year.

Garrison Viera, fair committee chair and booth manager, said organizers worked hard to bring new booths that highlight the communities represented on the Vineyard. 

“When I took over, there wasn’t much of a diverse representation of our Island community in Boothland, so I made it a personal goal for me to be more inclusive and try to get someone from [the Brazilian and Wampanoag] communities to be represented,” he said. 

This year was the first-ever stand from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Viera said. The booth was Bowen’s Arrow, which is also a storefront at the Aquinnah Cliffs, owned by Jennifer Staples’ and her mother, Wampanoag elder Kristina Hook. Staples was awarded “Best New Booth” on Sunday afternoon for Bowen’s Arrow, which featured an array of handmade jewelry, Aquinnah-themed T-shirts, and hats and books on indigenous practices. 

Viera also shared that this year’s layout for Boothland was done with much thought and appreciation for the traditions that have kept the Agricultural Fair going through the years. “I worked under Diane Powers, who was the booth manager before me for multiple years. She just recently passed away a couple weeks ago, which was kind of a shock. And so when I was doing a layout this year, I did a lot of thinking about her because she taught me how to do it,” Viera said. “It was a little emotional for me this year, but it felt great.” 

Viera’s daughter, Nayelli Viera, is a rising sophomore at MVRHS, and joked that she’s helped her father plan the fair since she was born. She said she hopes to one day take over her father’s role. “I enjoy knowing the people at the fair and the community feel,” she told The Times.

While many fair-goers, like Viera and his family, have deep ties to the Agricultural Fair, it’s also an event that hosts many seasonal visitors to the Island. 

New York resident Larkin McNamara grew up vacationing on the Vineyard. Now, she and her sister return to the Island each year to work at the FaerieFyne Face Paint stand at the fair, which was awarded “Best Non-food Booth” this year. “Everyone’s so nice, and I love the Island. Everything makes me want to come back year after year,” she told The Times on Friday night. 

Anastacia and Mark Awad have attended the fair together for the past seven years with their son Austin. “It’s been our annual tradition, at this point,” Mark said as the three of them sat at a picnic table watching the sack race competition Saturday afternoon. 

“We love coming to the fair every year. And also Austin’s school, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, has a booth here this year, so we’re supporting and volunteering there to make people aware of this great school,” Anastacia added. 

For incoming third-grader Austin, it all comes down to fair enjoyment. “My favorite part is … maybe bungee jumping. That is really fun,” he said. 

Inside the wooden barns, farmers proudly displayed their animals, ranging from calves and ponies to bunnies and chicks. Joe Douglas, who runs two meat enterprises on the Island, Pork to Fork and Leaf to Beef, has displayed her pigs for the past eight years and said the best part is educating people about farming.  

Bringing the pigs to the fair “is a huge part of the farm, because I love the education part of it. I love talking with people and teaching them about my pigs,” Douglas said.

Many sheep farmers and local weavers also demonstrated their abilities under the shade of the Weaving Tent where serene Islanders weaved wool into thread. Historian Norah Van Riper stood next to her wool displays dressed in a historical outfit authentic in the 1700s.

“This is my favorite volunteer opportunity,” Van Riper said. “I’m always happy to donate my time to the Agricultural Society’s biggest fundraiser. And it’s just fun to get new perspectives in front of new audiences.”

The 164th Agricultural Fair closed off in style after the popular and well-attended skillet toss was won by Em deBettencourt, the Oak Bluffs Harbor Master, who threw the cast-iron more than 45 feet. The Barn Closing Parade wrapped up the weekend, featuring participants and livestock for a final appearance before the barn officially closed its doors. 

“The fair is a time for you to spend with friends and family and to appreciate this beautiful community we live in,” DaSilva said.