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

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 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. I want ice cream... no, cotton candy... no, popcorn...

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. Group rates and discounted tickets for Stratham residents are available.

Obviously Dad dressed the kids today.

Parking is Free.

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

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Posted by Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager on 11/24/2008 01:42 AM

Comments (40)

new hampshire, seacoast, stratham, stratham fair, family activity, fair, stratham hill, vintage photos

Originally posted at: "Singing in the Rain!": Stratham Fair, NH Seacoast Tradition - Illustrated with Vintage Family Photos (LOCALISM FEATURED)

This post has been included in New Hampshire Information Rockingham County, NH Information Stratham, NH Information
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40 Comments on Stratham Fair, NH Seacoast Tradition - Illustrated with Vintage Family Photos (LOCALISM FEATURED)

JUL

2008

Sharon, that look like a fun day. Now tell me about the grandpa & grandma photos and also the one w/ the wee little ones......family photos of yours?

Cynthia Well, it only took 100 visitors before I got a comment! I was beginning to think this post was going to go by completely unnoticed.

Thank you for commenting and asking about the photos. I didn't start out planning to use them. I simply wrote the post and then wanted to insert some photos. I'm so paranoid lately about where to get my clipart that I decided to check my own photos to see if I had anything I could use. When I found the photo of my mom with the goat I got the idea to use my vintage family photos. Look closely, she is wearing curlers in her hair!

Run your mouse over the photos...there are captions.

The children are me and my sister and two brothers. I'm the oldest of 4. The grandparents are my father's grandparents.

Thanks again for the comment, you made my day!!

Oh Sharon, I love, love, love those captions, such a detailed person you are! Did I mention I love the captions? I do enjoy the family photos.

You cheeky little girl, where is the rest of your dress? I certainly remembered those dresses. I'll post mine below. I looked so pleased to have my picture taken, NOT! Such a little toughie I was, look at the nice smile my family member has by comparison.

All laughing is allowed and encouraged.

Cynthia and family member

Cynthia You do look like a toughie! But a really cute toughie! Thug? Now that's funny! I would have been disappointed if you hadn't captioned the picture. I notice he is keeping a safe distance from you. What a head of curls...had the Shirley Temple thing going, huh?

Thanks so much for contributing a photo!

JUL

2008

Oh Sharon,

I forgot to comment on the curlers.........I soooo remember that from my own childhood. I had a favorite aunt that thought nothing of going to the store in curlers and she was not the only one, they were everywhere! Besides I love you 'Mom's cat like glasses', pretty cool!

I had to wonder what were they saving their hair for? Maybe a special date w/ Dad at the end of the day? No blow dryers, electric curlers, flatirons and other gadgets like we have now days to make the transition quickly.

And yes I did get the 'Shirley Temple' title many, many times. Still have the curls but I smooth them out most times and I now have to pay for the blonde that was once my natural hair color, sigh.

no smile

Cynthia It's funny how the glasses are back in style again. The curlers certainly are not though. That's one trend I hope never resurfaces. Thanks again for the comments.

JUL

2008

Sharon, great photos...very nostalgic. I love it and I love the glasses. That was a fun time to grow up.

JUL

2008

Tim Thanks for the comment. It was a fun time to grow up, so much simpler. I love going back by looking at old photos.

NOV

2008

I love the vintage photos. They bring back lots of family memories of fairs and zoo trips and other things.

NOV

2008

Enjoyed the vintage aspect and your post. Congratulations on the feature!

Barbara Thanks, did you scroll over the pics to read their captions? Most people don't realize that they have captions. I'm glad you enjoyed, thanks for the comment.

Susie: Thanks! I couldn't be happier that is was featured. My thanks to Rich Jacobson for his "Mulligan, Do Over" post for giving me the second chance for the golden star! My hope is more people were able to appreciate it this time around.

The photos are priceless--I assume they are your family photos?

Sounds like a nice time, and brings back memories. Just hope they treat the animals well, since I adore them and know alot of fairs do not!

Sharon I have heard that the Stratham Fair is a good time! I love the use of the old photos...nice touch:)

This is a GREAT post! So much more interesting with the old photos. I had to laugh (with fond memories) at the pic where the woman is in hair curlers. Reminded me of a lot of old family photos that I've seen with the same thing them. Do you know who the woman with the green shorts and hair curlers is? I would swear to you it is a photo of my Aunt Karen - right down to the green shorts, body type, hair color and size of the hair rollers she has in the photos. LOL

Kudo's,
Wonderful Post!

Sharon, exceptional post here showing localism at its best! I LOVE the vintage photos, how unique. I especially like the one of the girl with such excitement on her face.

Wow! This is neat! Great post!

Diane Thank you, yes the photos are family photos.

Kristin It is a good time and really brings the community together. I couldn't say for sure about the animals, but I haven't heard of any abuse. The animals in the photos are from Bensons which closed many years ago. It was located in Hudson, NH and it was a regular family outing for my family.

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

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.

Hi Sharon;

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

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

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

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.

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......................

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.

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

Anthony Thanks!

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

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.

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.

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

2008

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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