GREENFIELD — After a few years of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers of the 173rd Franklin County Fair are excited to welcome the community back to the fairgrounds for the return of several fan-favorite events.
“It’s very exciting to come back to the new sense of normal and have a lot of things back that were kind of in an odd state of uncertainty during the past couple of years of the pandemic,” said Mike Nelson, president of the Franklin County Agricultural Society that operates the fairgrounds on Wisdom Way.
The annual fair — which kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. with a parade from Greenfield Middle School to the fairgrounds — was canceled in 2020 and modified in 2021 in accordance with public health recommendations at the time. Masks were required indoors and recommended outdoors, and events such as the hot dog and fried dough eating contests were put on hiatus.
“Both of those contests were put on hold last year as we all waited through the pandemic to see what was going to happen,” Nelson said. “We’re excited to have those back again.”
As always, the fair will include a mix of new events and old favorites, he said.
“The most exciting one … is the Black Cat Hell Drivers Auto Thrill Show,” he said. “We often ask, ‘What do you miss most?’ … There used to be some thrill shows in the ’80s and ’90s, and they were looking to get back to that.”
The Black Cat Hell Drivers Auto Thrill Show will be held at the grandstand on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
“The other thing for our primary events would be the demolition derbies. … Those are always a huge crowd pleaser,” Nelson commented. “We anticipate them to be again this year.”
Rosaire’s Racing Pigs and Flying High Dogs, two popular events each year, will also return this weekend.
Nelson said in addition to being “back to normal,” fair organizers are excited about the “renaissance that has taken place” at the Wisdom Way property.
“We’ve put almost $800,000 in improvements at the fairgrounds, and people are going to see that,” he said. “When they walk in, they’re going to see the blacktop … the new trees, and they’re going to see the refurbished buildings. I know my board is extremely proud of the work we’ve done in recent years, and we’re excited to show it off to the community.”
With respect to improvements, Wisdom Way from Green River Cemetery to the intersection with River Street and Mill Street will remain closed through the weekend for ongoing road construction that will impact guests’ arrival to the fairgrounds, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Traffic coming from the north will be detoured down River Street to Linwood Street to Fairview Street, back onto Wisdom Way.
Free shuttle buses will be provided from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with pickup locations at the Olive Street Parking Garage and the Greenfield Corporate Center on Munson Street, where parking will be free for fair patrons.
Nelson said he’s excited to welcome the community back to the fairgrounds that, over the past couple years and in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a destination “almost all year round.”
“The community’s fairground continues to thrive, perhaps even better than before the pandemic,” he said. “We took the pandemic year to restrategize how our fairgrounds are going to survive the pandemic and come out stronger. By all counts, I’m really proud to say we did.”
Thursday, Sept. 8
■3 p.m. — Gates open
■4 p.m. — Midway opens
■5 p.m. — Kick-off parade (Starts at Greenfield Middle School)
Infield
■4:15 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■5 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■5:45 p.m. — Grand Illusions by The Blooms
■6:30 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■7:15 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
Community Stage
■6 p.m. — Matt Kim’s Rock Shop
■7:30 p.m. — Ultra Mammoth
■11 a.m. — Mass Appeal
■3 p.m. — Gates open
■4 p.m. — Midway opens
Infield
■3:45 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■4:30 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■5:15 p.m. — The Cowboy Circus
■6 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■6:45 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■7:30 p.m. — Grand Illusions by The Blooms
Grandstand
■7:30 p.m. — Black Cat Hell Drivers Auto Thrill Show
Community Stage
■5 p.m. — Third Gear
■8 p.m. — Chick ’n’ Wire
■8 a.m. — Gates open
■10 a.m. — Apple Pie Contest (Gazebo)
■12 p.m. — Midway opens
Infield
■11:30 a.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■12:15 p.m. — Grand Illusions by The Blooms
■1 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■1:45 p.m. — The Cowboy Circus
■2:30 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■3:15 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■4:30 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■5:15 p.m. — Grand Illusions by The Blooms
■6 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■6:45 p.m. — The Cowboy Circus
■7:30 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pig
Grandstand
■2 p.m. — Black Cat Hell Drivers Auto Thrill Show
■7 p.m. — Stoney Roberts’ Demolition Derby
Community Stage
■11 a.m. — Connecticut River Flute Choir
■12:15 p.m. — Greenfield Tae Kwon Do
■2 p.m. — Skeleton Crew Theater
■3:45 p.m. — Hager’s Farm Fried Dough Eating Contest
■5 p.m. — ’60s Experience
■8 p.m. — After Glo
■9 a.m. — Gates open
■Noon — Midway opens
Infield
■10:30 a.m. — Touch-a-Truck
■11:30 a.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■12:15 p.m. — Grand Illusions by The Blooms
■1 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■1:45 p.m. — The Cowboy Circus
■2:30 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■3:15 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■4:15 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
■5 p.m. — Grand Illusions by The Blooms
■5:45 p.m. — Flying High Dogs
■6:30 p.m. — The Cowboy Circus
■7:15 p.m. — Rosaire’s Racing Pigs
Grandstand
■10 a.m. — Emergency Services Parade
■1 p.m. — Black Cat Hell Drivers Auto Thrill Show
■3 p.m. — Power Wheels Demo Derby
■6 p.m. — Stoney Roberts’ Demo Derby
Community Stage
■11 a.m. — The Crescent Dancers
■12:15 p.m. — North County Line Dancers
■2 p.m. — Skeleton Crew Theater
■3:45 p.m. — Tom’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
■4:45 p.m. — Bill Knittle and the Flying Sparks
■7:15 p.m. — Dragonfly