enlarge 2006 Press Herald file

A pig scramble provides good entertainment at the Ossipee Valley Fair, which opens this year on July 9.

Maine's agricultural fairs provide an excellent taste of the state. The first of the year opens July 2 in Houlton and the last one closes Oct. 11 in Fryeburg. The following list is supplied by the Maine Department of Agriculture.

July 2-5, Houlton Fair, featuring livestock, crafts, midway and entertainment. Contact Lori Weston at 532-2977 or go to www.houltonfair.com.

July 9-12, Ossipee Valley Fair, Hiram, old-fashioned fair, exhibit halls, lots of livestock, midway and drag racing, animal pulling events. Contact Kathleen Haley at 793-8434 or go to www.ossipeevalleyfair.com.

July 17-19, Waterford World's Fair, North Waterford. Contact Lucille J. Millett at 514-0333 or www.nwwf08.org.

July 24-26, Pittston Fair, small, family-oriented country fair with midway, exhibit hall, animal pulling, children's games, tractor pulling. Contact Claudia Bailey at 582-7791.

July 31-Aug. 9, Bangor State Fair. Contact Mike Dyer at 947-5555 or go to www.bangorstatefair.com.

July 31-Aug. 8, Northern Maine Fair, Presque Isle. Contact Andy LeBlanc at 769-2258 or go to www.northernmainefairgrounds.com.

Aug. 5-8, Monmouth Fair. Contact Laura Foulke at 933-2249 or www.monmouthgrows.com/monmouthfair.

Aug. 7-9, Athens Fair, a small country fair with animal exhibits, crafts and midway. Contact: Donna Avery at 660-7340.

Aug. 9-15, Topsham Fair. Contact Tad Hunter at 729-1544 or www.topshamfair.net.

Aug. 13-22, Skowhegan State Fair. Contact Rebecca Turner at 474-2947 or www.skowheganstatefair.com.

Aug. 22-29, Union Fair. Contact John Crabtree at 273-2465 or www.unionfair.org.

Aug. 27-30, Piscataquis Valley Fair, Dover-Foxcroft. Contact Deanne Merrill at 943-2650 or www.PiscataquisValleyFair.com.

Aug. 27-30, Acton Fair. Contact Lista Staples 636-2026 or www.Actonfair.net.

Aug. 30-Sept. 6, Windsor Fair. Contact Lincoln Orff at 549-7121 or www.windsorfair.com.

Sept. 3-7, Blue Hill Fair. Contact Robert Eaton at 374-3701 or www.bluehillfair.com.

Sept. 4-7, Springfield Fair, Contact Kirk Ritchie at 738-2888 or http://thespringfieldfair.com.

Sept. 4-7, Harmony Free Fair. Contact Mel Chadbourne at 683-5873 or www.harmonyfreefair.org.

Sept. 10-13, Clinton Lions Fair, contact Jon Whitten Sr. at 426-8013, 474-8287 or www.clintonlionsfair.com.

Sept. 11-13, Litchfield Fair, country fair with large midway, agricultural exhibits, livestock, animal pulling events. Contact Charles Smith at 353-8105.

Sept. 12, Cornish Fair, horse racing venue. Contact Joan Bettencourt at 625-4469.

Sept. 13-19, Oxford County fair, Oxford,...