SHELBURNE — What agricultural fair has a planetarium across the street where attendees can look up at the stars?
The answer to that question, posed by Paula Brault, is the Shelburne Grange Fair, which for the first time will feature the Stars Above traveling planetarium program at the Shelburne Fire Station, across the street from the rest of the fair at 17 Little Mohawk Road.
“We have the Stars [Above] organization coming in and doing a planetarium. … It’s happening at the Fire Station across the street because they need a 12-foot ceiling,” said Brault, co-chair of the Shelburne Grange Fair.
The Shelburne Grange Fair, now entering its 78th rendition, starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, and wraps up at 4:30 p.m. There is no admission fee.
Stars Above will offer three shows, each with attendance capped at 20 people, starting at 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Brault added that the Grange Fair is always excited about its agricultural exhibits.
“We have a petting farm this year,” she said. “A local farm is bringing some animals.”
Several other organizations will be present, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s student-run entomology club, which will bring a whole host of insects from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Network, offering a craft-making event and storytelling for children at 1 p.m.; magician Steve Charette, providing a magic show at 2 p.m.; nonprofit reptile rehabilitators Morphs & Milestones, which will bring reptiles from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and the Shriners Clowns, making balloon art for children from 10 a.m. to noon.
Music will be provided by Robert Fletcher starting at 10 a.m. and the Shelburne Falls Military Band will perform at noon.
Throughout the fair, Penny Novack, better known to Grange Fair attendees as the “Pocket Lady,” will be walking around with little prizes in her pockets that young children can receive — after having a short conversation with Novack, that is. She’s been in this role for years, with Brault saying she remembers meeting Novack when she was a young child.
“She’s been doing it for several decades,” Brault said. “Kids can walk up to her, take a little prize out of her pocket and have a conversation with her. She’s a riot. I’ve known her since I was a little kid myself, and I think she’s had three or four generations of kids getting things from her pockets. She’s exclusive to us; someone wanted us to lend her out and we were like, ‘Uh, no.'”
Concessions will also be available, with the Marine Corps League Oak Ridge Detachment providing hamburgers and hot dogs throughout the day. Additionally, the annual chicken barbecue spearheaded by Roland Giguere will take place at noon, with tickets for adults priced at $18. Each meal includes half a chicken, coleslaw, corn and a homemade roll.
The preparation of the food for the chicken barbecue has itself become part of the Grange Fair, with corn shucking starting at 9:30 a.m. Brault said the Grange will award prizes to the children who shuck the most corn. While most of the event is free, the chicken barbecue and concessions from the Marine Corps League Oak Ridge Detachment are not.
The craft market will also be making a return, with money raised going to support Audrey’s Angels, an organization that raises money for cystic fibrosis research.
Additionally, residents can enter their artwork, produce or other creations to be displayed at the Exhibit Hall. Information for exhibitors is available at tinyurl.com/2uemy8hk.
“[The Grange Fair] is sort of the official last day of summer, if you will,” Brault said. “Because we’re so small … it really is a place for the community to come together.
“We get renewed and excited every year, and it’s because new people come all the time,” Brault continued. “It’s just fun. We do it for the pure enjoyment of it and we get to try new things like a planetarium. … Just come and have fun.”
For a full schedule of events, visit tinyurl.com/26xnwbcn.
