CONTOOCOOK, N.H. – In 1915, the Hopkinton Fair centered around a race track, where teams of harnessed horses would show who was the fastest.
Bragging rights also extended to other things.
You could show off your produce, livestock and handiwork.
Always the end-of-season, this is a celebration of labor and culture and nature, here in New Hampshire had a little competitive edge thrown in to the mix to make it more fun.
The 99th Hopkinton State Fair is this long weekend and will again be centered on a spectacle in the track.
Only, this year, it is about the fastest snowmobile. Snowmobile drag racing debuts at this year's fair.
Three engine classes are on tap (600, 700 and 800 cc) with side by side elimination heats.
The event is Friday at 7 p.m. and it requires a $5 stadium admission charge.
The gate price for the fair is $10 this year for what is one of the largest livestock exhibits in New England.
There is also a new Mud Racing Competition next Monday at 2 p.m.
Full-size engines up to eight cylinders have a class to compete in. That also has a $5 admission charge to attend.
This is in addition to the wildly popular Demolition Derby on Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. each night. The first night is for full-size class engines and on Sunday, the four-cylinder class goes out.
Tickets are $8 for Saturday and $7 for Sunday for the Demolition Derby.
Located at 392 Kearsarge Ave., Contoocook, the fair is a classic way to end the summer in New Hampshire.
More information is available at https://www.hsfair.org/.
