Cumberland Fair

Cumberland Fair

maine agricultural fair

Cumberland, maine

Get in touch with Maine’s agricultural roots at the Cumberland Fair. The epitome of tradition, this historic event started in the 1800s and today it has everything you would expect from a local fair. There are carnival rides, a petting zoo, and of course lots of indulgent fair foods—friend dough, candy apples, cotton candy. There are also unique experiences you don’t find everywhere like the annual pumpkin weigh-off and pig races. The Cumberland Fair usually occurs the last week of September.

history

Horses at Cumberland Fair
Horses at the Cumberland Fair, Photo Credit: Chris Riccardo

The very first Cumberland Fair was held for two days on October 10th and 11th of 1868 in the center of town in back of what is now Greely High School. The people of the town and its surrounding areas had an opportunity to show off their cooking skills and fine needlework. Farmers brought out their biggest, and most show-stopping vegetables and those with working steers could show off the strength and coordination of their animals at the ox pulling contest. Local horsemen raced their finest steeds on Main Street and so it all began…


more information

Yarmouth Downtown Mill, Photo by Amy Tolk

For more upcoming fairs and festivals in Greater Portland visit our Events Calendar