A look at how the Hunterdon County Democrat has reported on the annual county fair through the years.
Hunterdon County has had an annual fair since 1848, when it was known as the Flemington Fair. It continued in the county seat for over 100 years, being renamed the Hunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair in 2000.
The fair was held at the Old Flemington Fairgrounds in Raritan Township before relocating to its new home in East Amwell Township.
This year's fair takes place Wednesday through Sunday at the South County Park, 1207 Route 179 between Ringoes and Lambertville. For a complete schedule of activities, go to HunterdonCountyFair.com.
Here's how the fair was covered by the Hunterdon County Democrat through the years:
1876
There was some doubt as to the propriety of holding a fair this year, in view of the Centennial Exhibition, so the directors met to discuss the matter. The decision is let there be a fair.
As there is considerable anxiety to know who owns the boss of the turf, we anticipate a big turnout Saturday when the Fairground is open for those who wish to trot their horses and train them for the fair.
300 reasons to visit Hunterdon's 4-H Fair
1926
Rain and overcast skies cast gloom, but despite the heavy downpour the Fair greeted the largest crowd of any opening day in its history.
1951
Next Tuesday the gates will open on what promises to be another record-breaking year for the Flemington Agricultural Fair. It is nearly 100 years ago that a group of enterprising citizens bought the fairgrounds property, laid out the racetrack and announced the Fair. A period of depression hit the Fair late in the last century but it was revived in 1910 by another local group and has since lived up to its ''bigger and better'' slogan each year.
It's the last week in August, and that, for the people of Flemington and for many miles around, means each year, the opening of the Flemington Agricultural Fair. For nearly a century, that's been the time set for the fair, now in its 99th year. Tuesday morning saw hundreds of people driving, riding bicycles or just walking thru the gates for the opening day. Children predominated, since it was one of 2 days during fair week when kids get in free.
The famed old incubator of the Dionne Quintuplets will be displayed at the Flemington Fair next week next to a modern incubator such as will be used at Hunterdon Medical Center. The 2 incubators are only a part of a large exhibit planned by the Medical Center, which is expected to attract considerable attention.
Over 50 Main Stage performances at the fair
In a Flemington Agricultural Fair which was bigger and better than that of last year, an estimated 45,000 visitors saw agricultural and commercial exhibits, demonstrations and feature attractions in front of the grandstand. Commercial exhibits, always popular with Fair-goers, numbered higher this year than ever before when exhibitors occupied every available spot on the grounds.
More than 12,000 tags were sold at Flemington Fair for the benefit of the new Hunterdon Medical Center, with a total of $3,168.28 realized. Mrs. Donald Klopfer, chairman of the project, pointed out that this was an unique example of community effort, with 285 women from all parts of the county acting as saleswomen thruout the week.
1976
More than 75,000 visitors from far and wide are expected to visit the 120th Flemington Fair, the ''Queen of Country Fairs, '' during its week-long run beginning Tuesday. This year, the historic fair will combine the new and old. New to the fair will be a flying disk competition, a 4-H Seeing Eye Dog demonstration, and a modified tractor pull. Traditional events are 4-H Open Sheep Show, the Blue Ribbon Lamb Sale and the Fashion show.
Sunny weather and fair skies have brought huge crowds to one of the few places in the world that people can ride a live pony carousel, eat everything from frozen yogurt to pierogi, and view both drag strip racing and a headless lady in the same evening. Yes once again, it's Flemington Fair Week. The 120-year-old ''Queen of Country Fairs'' attracted those of all ages and from every area of the state.