Agricultural Fair & Antique Show This Weekend!

The Agricultural Society Exhibition & Fair Oct. 2-3 is an authentic,19th-century country fair with something for everyone.

There are exhibitions in more than 150 categories of judged baked goods, preserves, hand-made needlecrafts and the industrial arts—including tin, iron and wooden wares; pottery; cooperage (barrel making); printing; and broom and soap making.

Youth compete in 60 different aged categories, from penmanship and pottery to photography and pumpkin pie.

Among the competitions are those for the largest pumpkin, one for weight and a second for size. The competitions are open to museum members and the public alike, and most have both 19th-century and 21st-century categories.

Eye-catching 19th-century vegetables, many of them unfamiliar to modern gardeners, will also be found in a special vegetable and floral tent.

Prize-winning sheep, oxen, cows, horses and goats will be on display, in addition to a poultry show, sponsored by the Rochester Poultry Assn.

The popular produce tent features specialty vendors offering smoked meats, cheeses, baked goods, maple products, spices, honey, cider, apples and other specialty items.


There will also be live entertainment, including 19th-century musicians , a 2 p.m. Sunday Festival of Favorites concert by the Harmonics in Brooks Grove Church and Punch & Judy and magic shows.

And, as was common at 19th-century fairs, museum vintage base ball teams will square off for the Mayor’s Cup Championship Trophy.

The consolation game will be played Saturday and the championship game on Sunday. Both games are played at Silver Base Ball Park, the first replica 1800s base ball park in the nation

ALSO FEATURED THIS YEAR…the museum’s 12th Annual Antique Show & Sale with 30 select dealers from across the Mid-Atlantic region to show and sell their exceptional antiques. Furniture, paintings, books, jewelry, porcelain and glassware should be plentiful all weekend. (Antique-Show-Only admission: $5)