Topsfield Fair Contests Begin Accepting Entries For 204th Event

TOPSFIELD, MA — With the 204th Topsfield Fair now less than two months away many of the hundreds of amateur and professional contests are already accepting entries or will soon do so.

This year's fair runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 10 at the Topsfield Fairgrounds.

Many of the contests include prize money, while some are just for bragging rights across the North Shore. In most cases, contestants can upload entries online here.

There are two pageants at this year's Fair.

The Junior King & Queen pageant is open to children ages 5 through 8. The entry deadline is Sept. 30 and the pageant is held on Oct. 1 at 10 a.m.

The Mrs. Essex County pageant is open to married contestants, who are least 18 years old, and currently live with their spouse in Essex County. That contest includes submission of a prepared food item and an interview. The entry deadline is Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. with the pageant held on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.

Among the contests are:

• Art (Amateur & Professional) – Painting, Graphics, Photography, etc. Entry Deadline: 9/5. Entries accepted 9/10 & 9/11 from Noon – 4:00 p.m.
• Beekeeping – Honey Products, Beeswax Products, Arts & Crafts, Cooking with Honey & Spirits, etc. Entry Deadlines vary based on category.
• Canning – Jam, Jelly, Pickles, Preserves, Relish, etc. Entry Deadline: 9/6. Entries accepted on 9/10 (10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.).
• Crafts - Ceramic, Crocheting, Doll, Jewelry, Knitting, Needlework, Models, Quilting, Rug, Sewing, Smocking, Spinning, Weaving, Woodworking, etc. Entry Deadline: 9/5. Entries accepted 9/17 & 9/18 from Noon – 4:00 p.m.
• Farm Photography - Theme: Agriculture in Massachusetts. Entry Form and photos must be at the Fair office by 8/31.
• Flowers – Bonsai, Dahlias & Zinnias, Roses, Sunflowers, Hanging Basket, Holiday Decoration, House Plants, Terrariums, etc. Entry Deadline: 9/26. Entries accepted 9/29 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Foods – Topsfield Fair Fall Harvest Baked Sweet Treat Contest, King Arthur Baking Company Pumpkin Cake Contest, Topsfield Fair Apple Pie Contest, Parent & Child Cookie Celebration (Theme: Favorite Sport Themed Cookies). Entry deadlines vary.
• Fruit – Apples, Berries, Crabapples, Grapes, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Quinces. Entry Forms Due and Entries Accepted on 9/29 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
• Giant Pumpkins – Over $15,000 in prize money up for grabs. Entry Deadline: 9/11. Weigh-off held on 9/30.
• Poultry – Ducks & Geese, Standard Poultry, Eggs, Bantams, Cock Crowing, Hen Flying, Turkeys, Pigeons, Non-Standard Barnyard Rooster, Poster. Entry Deadline: 9/14.
• Vegetables – Beans, Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes, Peppers, Squash, Tomatoes, and many more categories. Entry Deadline: 9/26.

Additional categories include cattle, Christmas trees, draft horse show, horse and oxen pulls, rabbits and cavies, sheep, sheep dog gtrial, stock farm tractor pulling, winemaking, 4-H Club, and many others.

Those interested can go here for more information.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)