UNION, Maine — The Union Fair wrapped up its 151st season on Sunday. The five-day fair was loaded with activities and entertainment like rides, live music, and a demolition derby.
The fair also coincided with Maine's Wild Blueberry Festival. The 61st annual festival featured a pie eating contest, best pie baker competition, and contests for who can make the best blueberry muffin and dessert.
The president of the Union Fair, Matt Elwell, said having the Wild Blueberry Festival as part of the fair gets the younger generation interested in agriculture and farming.
"The blueberry industry is obviously a very big economic industry in Maine and certainly right here in the local area as well," Elwell said. "Even right here in the town of Union, there's hundreds of acres of blueberry fields, so for us to be located right here with lots of farms blueberry acreage, it's important we give back to the community."
The Union Fair began back in 1869 and has only taken three years off: 1943, 1944, and 2020, due to World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elwell said the fair is entirely volunteer-run, and they work year-round.
"We've actually already started planning next year's fair," Elwell said. "It's a five-day fair, but it really takes 365 days to make it happen, and we're super proud of the volunteers that help us make it possible. Without them we wouldn't be able to have such a great fair."