139th Bolton Fair opens Aug. 12, kicking off agricultural fair season in Central Mass.

Kim Ring, Telegram & Gazette
·2 min read
Rides are reflected in a pond during the 2017 Bolton Fair.
Rides are reflected in a pond during the 2017 Bolton Fair.

LANCASTER — If you've spent the summer growing beefy, red tomatoes, raising the best livestock or hankering for some cotton candy and midway rides, your time has come.

The 139th Bolton Fair runs Aug. 12 through 14 at the fairgrounds, 318 Seven Bridge Road in Lancaster. A preview midway runs from 5 to 10 p.m.  Aug. 11 and there is no admission charge that day.

The fair offers plenty of entertainment with pig racing, magic shows, a motorcycle stunt show, the Wacky Rubber Duck Races and the Indian River Lumberjack Show.

The Hypnotist Show featuring Lance Gifford takes place Saturday and Sunday.

The popular Woodbooger Demolition Derby takes place at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights at the Motorsports Arena.

The HKS Clydesdales will offer a wagon-pulling demonstration, braiding and harnessing demonstrations and a meet-and-greet all three days.

While this year's Youth Poultry-Waterfowl Show and the rooster-crowing competition have been canceled over concerns about avian flu, there are still plenty of barnyard animals to see.

The youth beef cattle and dairy cattle shows have moved to a new time and will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, the same time as the youth sheep show.

The youth swine show is at 1 p.m. Aug. 12 and there are rabbit and goat shows as well.

And for those who love the sound of a barnyard, there's an opportunity to bring home a ribbon for the best pig sounds with a brand-new competition open to everyone. The contest kicks off at 4 p.m. Aug. 12 and can be the best true sound of a pig or an enhanced, humorous version with props or costumes.

Each contestant gets two attempts and will be judged 50% on their ability to enunciate the sound clearly and loudly and 50% on the excitement of the audience.

Cows are judged during the 137th Bolton Fair Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019.
Cows are judged during the 137th Bolton Fair Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019.

Tickets to the fair are available online at bolton.fiestashows.com and are $12 in advance and $15 after 12:01 a.m. Thursday. There are discounts for senior citizens, military and children from 5 to 12.  Children 4 and younger are admitted free.

Visitors are reminded to follow parking instructions and use a shuttle to and from the fairgrounds. The parking address for GPS use is 1450 Lunenburg Road, Lancaster (Route 70 at McGovern Boulevard).

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Bolton Fair opens Aug. 12, kicking off fair season in Central Mass.