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Stratham Fair, NH Seacoast Tradition - Illustrated with Vintage Family Photos (LOCALISM FEATURED)

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

The goat isn't impressed with Mom, is she wearing curlers?

 

When it comes to agricultural fairs, the community of Stratham, New Hampshire, takes theirs very seriously.  

This year July 24 - 27  2008  at Stratham Hill Park the 41st annual Stratham Fair will be held and attendance is expected to be over 25,000 people.

  

The fair started out as a small lobster bake to thank the volunteer fire department and has become a huge charity event that benefits many local organizations. 

Oh Goody, we're riding in a fire truck! If only all cars had two steering wheels!Mom, when do we get to ride?

Entertainment, in addition to the usual games and rides of the midway, include performances on two stages, baking competition, pie eating contest, Miss Stratham Fair pagent, a Fine Arts and Crafts exhibit, a road race, and a Fireworks display on Sunday night as a finale to the fair.

She is wearing curlers!!  And where is the rest of my dress?

  

In traditional fashion, you will find 4H Shows and agricultural exhibits. 

In addition to the food delights of the Midway and the traditional lobster bake, a barbeque and a lasagna supper are also scheduled.

The very reasonable price of admission is $7 daily.

  Children 6-12 and Seniors 65+ are just $4 daily.   

 Children under 6 are Free.  

         Grandparents get in Free on Thursdays.

Why is it only free on Thursday?  Bingo is Thursday.

Military personnel and dependents get in free on Fridays. 

 

Obviously Dad dressed the kids today.  

Parking is Free. 

 

For info including Event Schedule, Admission Specials, directions and more visit the Stratham Fair website.

 

 

Comments (40)

Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

Hey, Sharon. Thanks for sharing. I love looking at all the older photos. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Jim

Nov 24, 2008 02:23 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Bill  Thanks!  I hope to use some vintage photos in another post soon.  I think everyone can relate to them...everyone can recognize their family in them and they bring back such fun memories. 

Nov 24, 2008 02:33 AM
Anthony Stokes-Pereira
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Nanuet, NY
Realtor

Hi Sharon;

Great event and super pictures, I wish the event all the success.

Nov 24, 2008 02:53 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Sharon - I like the captions for each photo -and the vintage photos as well. Great post!

Nov 24, 2008 03:12 AM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA

Adding in those vintage pics was a great idea.  Looks like a fun day!

Nov 24, 2008 03:55 AM
Benita Gottfried
New Vision Interiors LLC - Hopatcong, NJ

Hello Sharon,

Thanks for sharing, it gave me the opportunity to remember some things about my childhood. I love to sit in a quiet corner, with a cup of tea and remember when the world was innocent and just.

Nov 24, 2008 04:02 AM
Anonymous
Kathy

Hi Sharon! I just love the pics and your post.  I'm from The Berkshires in Massachusetts and my Husband and I have lived in FL for over 5 years now. But how I miss small town New England.  I'm very familiar with the area you are in.  I had a favorite Aunt that lived in Dover, N.H. and spent our summers there as a little girl in the 1960's.  We always went to Long Sands Beach in York, ME.  It was a tradition for my Dad and I to go "The Goldenrod" for the best hot fudge sundaes I've ever had until this day!  Then when I married, my husband and I continued the tradition and would visit at least 3 times a year.  I have cousins and second cousins in N.H. and downeast Maine. Thanks for sharing those great photos!  It brought back very pleasant memories......................

Nov 24, 2008 04:10 AM
#27
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Debbie  I'm so glad you enjoyed the photos.  The woman in curlers is my mother...sorry, it isn't your aunt, Karen!  I'm happy to hear that other women were running around in public with curlers, though and it wasn't just my mother.

Kris  Thank you so much!  The excited little girl is my sister, Linda.  We were very lucky little kids, we went to the amusement park, zoo or beach every weekend with my parents, aunt and grandmother.

Nov 24, 2008 04:46 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Raylene and Jim:  Thanks for the comments.  I'm so glad you enjoyed the post.

Nov 24, 2008 05:02 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Anthony  Thanks! 

Nov 24, 2008 05:04 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

I love those pictures. I totally cracked up at the lady with her hair in rollers. Imagine walking around like that today...too funny!

Nov 24, 2008 09:52 AM
Beverly Satchfield (Keller Williams Realty)
Keller Williams Realty - Greenville, SC

Sharon, Loved the post and the pictures. I'm originally from NH-Milton to be exact. I never went to the Stratham Fair-we always went to the Rochester Fair. The pictures also reminded me of the trips we took to the White Mountains-Santa's Village and Storyland. You've made me want to get out the old albums and check them out. Thanks for sharing and bringing back some great memories.

Nov 24, 2008 10:26 AM
Colleen Hine
Keefe Real Estate - Elkhorn, WI

Love the old photos, makes me want to take out the old photo albums.  What an era we lived in back then.

Thanks for the post.

Nov 24, 2008 10:34 AM
DeAndrea "Dee Dee" Jones
Samson Properties - Manassas, VA
DMVRealEstateChick

Great photos, their is always something about a clear vintage black and white photo that makes the people in the photo seem so much more real.

Nov 24, 2008 12:37 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Sharon and Sonja:  Thanks!  I have so many vintage photos and hope to use more in future posts.  I'm lucky to have an aunt who took lots of photos and took good care of them, otherwise I wouldn't have them today.

Nov 24, 2008 10:32 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Benita:  It is one miserable, windy and very cold day today here in NH.  Sitting in a corner with a cup of tea sounds like heaven!  I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

Nov 24, 2008 10:34 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy:    I was born in Lowell, Massachusetts so I did not spend my childhood here in NH.  In the 60's I was living in Tewksbury.  I moved to Dover, NH when I got married and lived there 25 years prior to moving to Portsmouth. I've spent many weekends at Long Sands Beach and the Goldenrod!  I've never had the hot fudge sundae...I'll have to check that out next summer.  I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures and I'm especially glad you commented.  Thanks!

Nov 24, 2008 10:42 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Monika:  I was pretty surprised when I realized those were curlers in her hair.  That is my mother and she doesn't remember going out in public that way, but she had four children and doesn't remember much from back then...it is all a blur! 

Nov 25, 2008 10:06 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Beverly:  I've been to the Rochester Fair, a horse there bit my husband in the arm and luckily he had a leather coat on and although the coat got ripped, his arm was fine.  The White Mountains were a family favorite outing.  The Flumes and the Old Man in the Mountain were regular destinations...I was so sad when he "fell off" the mountain.  Not only did I visit Story Land and Santa's Village as a child, I brought my children there.  My husband and I visited Clarks Trading Post a couple years ago and it is still a fun place to visit. 

Nov 25, 2008 10:13 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Colleen and Dee Dee:  I'm glad you enjoyed my photos, thanks for the comments.

Nov 25, 2008 10:14 AM