The Tunbridge World's Fair

Bright colored ribbons await award ceremonies.The Tunbridge
Fair has been operating since 1867 and at this location since
1875. It is a real country fair (although billed as a World's
Fair) with horse racing, tractor pulling, animal and
vegetable judging, but it also has a miniature village with
volunteers playing the parts of the villagers from long ago,
sort of like Williamsburg or Sturbridge village.

Lots of young girls wait their turn to show off their horses
in the ring

Families are assigned stalls for their horses and some look like
second homes - see the photo on the right

This street had many family stalls, along with the horses
and families

This beautifully groomed horse has a league of admirers

A longer view over one of the judging areas

Volunteers, almost all in period costumes (this man was one
of the few who weren't) demonstrate what everyday life was
like in Tunbridge 100 years ago or more.  This is the printer's
office. I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of the many
demonstrations of cutting and sawing lumber for building
purposes, shown in many ways.

Farm machinery and transports line a long barn. Here is a
bicycle driven saw and behind it a one horse sleigh

I loved this Surrey with the Fringe on the Top (but no
isenglass windows you could roll right down).

This peddler's wagon had a colorful history as the peddler was
a farmer who lost both hands in a farm accident and worked
as a peddler the rest of his life.

This young boy works hard pedaling to run a rope making
machine,

Contra Dancing in Period Costume

We felt like youngsters in this group!

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One large barn comprised a miniature village with this "home"
cooking lunch for the period volunteers around the fair.

This mother and daughter were making pounded cheese and
butter on crackers as a snack for everyone.

A busy weaver at her loom

This couple ran the general store, most popular item -
penny candy!

Music was provided as well.

The hat shop - I really loved wearing hats.

Before you can weave, the wool must be spun and died.

There was a functioning school - an actual one moved to the
site.

The antique tractor pull, which ran all day
There were a LOT of tractors!

The produce competitions had lots of entries - here are just
some of the pumpkin ones.

The cows were beautiful

And the cow barns immaculate

Aren't these patterns lovely. The black and white is separated
by a beautiful dove gray.

I just loved this young boy eating his pizza with his cow

A close up

Such cuddly lovely sheep

There was an obstacle course for the pigs. For a treat
this sow brought her piglets - a huge crowd favorite.

And if you haven't had enough tractors there were tons of
new ones on show and other farm machinery. There were
lots of rides as well, although Scott and I skipped that section

Every year I look forward to my once a year
fried dough covered with maple cream - Yum! We were
pleasantly surprised at the wide choice of food with some
much better and healthier options than usual. This of
course wasn't one of them!

Scott and I on the tractor ride back to our car after our
wonderful day at the Fair