The Brooklyn Fair

Brooklyn, CT, July 14, 2009 . . . Attention Fairgoers: help Windham County Agricultural Society celebrate its 200th
Anniversary at the Brooklyn Fair! In addition to rides, animals, entertainment, and food, this year the Home & Garden Department offers new and exciting exhibits, contests and demonstrations for all ages. Come be a part of this special year at the 2009 Brooklyn Fair.
The new "Victorian Hat Contest" honors the Fair's beginnings during the late 1800s, when ladies wore elaborate hats. With a $2.00 prize for each unique Victorian hat entered, this contest is open to all ages and is a great project for the whole family to enjoy. Think tulle, ribbon, silk flowers and other fancy flair…be creative and have fun!

As in years past, adults and children may also enter home-grown vegetables, fruit and flowers; artwork and handicrafts, baked goods, canned goods and more to be exhibited and judged. The King Arthur Flour Baking Contest offers prizes for youth and adult categories, and the Association of Connecticut Fairs sponsors Baking, Photo and Quilt contests for adults and juniors, the winners of which go on to statewide competition. Those interested 2009 contests or exhibits can find details and contest rules and download entry forms at www.BrooklynFair.org.

For 2009, the Home & Garden Department is also hosting some special guests to coincide with the 200th Anniversary. Representatives of Connecticut's Historic Gardens will be stationed in the Home & Garden Building with information about the state's various historic gardens. The Florence Griswold Museum—a renowned art museum in Old Lyme,Connecticut--will also have a booth promoting the opening of its new Rafal Landscape Center, which celebrates and preserves the history of agriculture and the landscape in Eastern Connecticut. The Florence Griswold Museum will offer a hands-on craft that fairgoers can enjoy when they visit the Home & Garden Building. The craft is intended to encourage visitors to be creative all year round.

"We have been working all year to re-interpret the Home and Garden Department to reflect today's exhibitors," says Greene. "We have revamped existing departments as well as added new areas, such as a digitally altered photography category for art submissions. The Fair's website will be continually updated as the details are worked out for the new contests.
We will also have cooking demonstrations to introduce some fun and easy recipes using those vegetables you spent all summer growing."

Brooklyn, CT, July 2, 2009 . . . Fairgoers have long enjoyed the major entertainment brought to town by the Brooklyn Fair. For 2009, the 160th Fair will again live up to its reputation for top-notch performances. This year's lineup includes up-and-coming country music stars Luke Bryan and Jake Owen plus Julianne Hough--made famous by ABC-TV's "Dancing with the Stars" and now living out her dream of a Nashville career. Headlining entertainment is scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. on the main stage. All shows are free with purchase of general admission to the fair

Thursday, August 27th will feature singer-songwriter Luke Bryan (www.lukebryan.com). Noted by PEOPLE magazine's special Country issue as one of “Country’s Hottest Guys," Luke won Music Row’s Breakthrough Songwriter Award and has been tapped an artist to watch by both Billboard and Country Weekly. On Friday, August 28th, international dance champion Julianne Hough (www.juliannehough.com) will show off her musical talent. Recently signed by Universal Music Group Nashville, the 19-year-old beauty will perform songs from her debut self-titled album on Brooklyn Fair's stage at 8PM. Saturday night, August 29th, features the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist of 2009, Jake Owen (www.jakeowen.net). This young Nashville musician has toured with some of the biggest names in the country, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson. To wrap up the weekend, Changes in Latitudes (www.changesinlatitudes.com) will perform on Sunday, August 29th at 1 & 3pm. This nine-piece Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band promises to take its audience to Margaritaville for a "Latitude Adjustment" with their "rolling beach party … of good, clean fun."

Brooklyn, CT, July, 2009 . . . Attention Fairgoers: help Windham County Agricultural Society celebrate its 200th Anniversary at the Brooklyn Fair! In addition to rides, animals, entertainment, and food, this year the Home & Garden Department offers new and exciting exhibits, contests and demonstrations for all ages. Come be a part of this special year at the 2009 Brooklyn Fair.

The new "Victorian Hat Contest" honors the Fair's beginnings during the late 1800s, when ladies wore elaborate hats. With a $2.00 prize for each unique Victorian hat entered, this contest is open to all ages and is a great project for the whole family to enjoy. Think tulle, ribbon, silk flowers and other fancy flair… be creative and have fun!

The Home & Garden Department's new "Still Growing” Multimedia Contest features a $1,000 GRAND PRIZE! The contest theme--“Still Growing: Celebrating 200 Years of Agriculture in Windham County”--asks participants to prepare a 5-10 minute multimedia presentation that celebrates past, present, and future opportunities that agriculture offers to Windham County. “Windham County has a rich agricultural heritage that has evolved, grown and diversified over the past 200 years,” says Matt Greene, new Vice President of the Windham County Agricultural Society. “Even though the region has grown in population and fewer farms can be seen today, there is still a vibrant agricultural economy thriving in Windham County.”

As in years past, adults and children may also enter home-gown vegetables, fruit and flowers; artwork and handicrafts, baked goods, canned goods and more to be exhibited and judged. The King Arthur Flour Baking Contest offers prizes for youth and adult categories, and the Association of Connecticut Fairs sponsors Baking, Photo and Quilt contests for adults and juniors, the winners of which go on to statewide competition. Those interested 2009 contests or exhibits can find details and contest rules and download entry forms at www.BrooklynFair.org .

For 2009, the Home & Garden Department is also hosting some special guests to coincide with the 200th anniversary. Representatives of Connecticut's Historic Gardens will be stationed in the Home & Garden Building with information about the state's various historic gardens. The Florence Griswold Museum—a renowned art museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut--will also have a booth promoting the opening of its new Rafal Landscape Center, which celebrates and preserves the history of agriculture and the landscape in Eastern Connecticut. The Florence Griswold Museum will offer a hands-on craft that fairgoers can enjoy when they visit the Home & Garden Building. The craft is intended to encourage visitors to be creative all year round.

"We have been working all year to re-interpret the Home and Garden Department to reflect today's exhibitors," says Greene. "We have revamped existing departments as well as added new areas, such as a digitally altered photography category for art submissions. The Fair's website will be continually updated as the details are worked out for the new contests. We will also have cooking demonstrations to introduce some fun and easy recipes using those vegetables you spent all summer growing."

Brooklyn, CT, June, 2009 . . .This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Windham County Agricultural Society—founders of the Brooklyn Fair. Formed in 1809, the WCAS has sponsored and organized this popular agricultural fair on the Brooklyn Fairgrounds for the past 160 years, making it one of the oldest continuously run fairs in the country. To celebrate the WCAS's 200-year milestone, a large fireworks display on Opening Night, August 27th will start things off with great fanfare. Additionally, during all four days of the fair, visitors can don early 19th-century costumes and pose before a historic backdrop with a covered wagon and other period artifacts. The sepia, old-time family photos will be given away at no charge to fair-goers. On Saturday the 29th, in addition to the numerous eclectic activities offered every year at the fair, kids can participate in old-fashioned games such as three-legged races, sack races and egg-on-a-spoon races.

Pam Roy, Superintendent of Children's Entertainment remembers the last time she saw fireworks at the Brooklyn Fair, during her own childhood. "I am so excited that after 30-plus years, the details have been worked out to bring fireworks back to the Brooklyn Fair," she remarks. "And what better time than to celebrate the Society's 200th anniversary?" The acclaimed Pyro FX will present the fireworks display, and they are sure to put on a breathtaking show. In anticipation of a large crowd, special charter buses will provide transportation to and from additional parking lots the night of the fireworks.

This anniversary fireworks display is funded by the Windham County Agricultural Society with support from sponsor United Natural Foods of Dayville, CT. WCAS Board Member Keith Dagenais has worked diligently along with the 200th Anniversary Committee, led by Gil Maiato, to see the anniversary events and fireworks display come to fruition. "We really wanted the 200th anniversary to be special, and fireworks were always a part of that plan," says Dagenais.

Brooklyn, CT, May, 2009 . . .Matt Greene, the new Vice President of the Windham County Agricultural Society is excited to announce the “Still Growing” multimedia contest to be held in the Home & Garden Department at the 2009 Brooklyn Fair. The theme of the contest is “Still Growing – Celebrating 200 Years of Agriculture in Windham County”. Matt exclaims “Windham County has a rich agricultural heritage that has evolved, grown and diversified over the past 200 years.” He adds “Even though the region has grown in population and fewer farms can be seen today, there is still a vibrant agricultural economy thriving in Windham County.”

Participants in the contest will prepare a 5-10 minute multimedia presentation that celebrates past, present, and future opportunities that agriculture offers to Windham County.

The contest is part of the WCAS’s celebration of it’s 200th anniversary, Matt explains “Since it’s inception in 1809, the Society’s Mission has included the promotion and education of agriculture in Windham County. The major venue for accomplishing this in a fun way is through the annual presentation of the Brooklyn Fair, this year being presented for the 160th time!”

Matt invites talented videographers of all ages to enter the contest and vie for the $1,000 GRAND PRIZE! “Join in the fun this year at Brooklyn Fair and celebrate the WCAS’s 200th birthday by celebrating, promoting and educating the folks about all that agriculture means to us here in Windham County!”

Contact: Matt Greene
860.861.1980

The 160th Brooklyn Fair is August 27th – 30th at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds in Brooklyn, CT. Gates open at 8am and close at 10pm (Thursday, Gates open at 4pm.) Admission is just $10 for adults and children (12 and under) are always FREE. Sunday is senior citizen’s day–admission is reduced to $6 for seniors 65 and older. Purchase tickets in advance, $30 for a family four pack, and save!