Houlton Fair opens with a bang

    HOULTON, Maine — The highly anticipated Houlton Agricultural Fair opens tomorrow at 8 a.m. with Kid’s Day with plenty to see and do for the whole family.
Forecasts through the Fourth of July are for mild temperatures and mostly clear skies which bodes well for the fireworks show tomorrow night at 9:15 p.m. The final fireworks show on Sunday, July 4, is also at 9:15 p.m.
Paul Cleary, president of the Houlton Fair Association, said it’s the biggest fireworks show north of Portland and has been one of the reasons 13,000-15,000 people attend the fair year after year.
Bud “Smokey” Gilmore, owner of Smokey’s Greater Shows, said: “There’s going to be a lot more excitement this year. For one thing we brought more and different rides. The Thunderbolt is the biggest improvement. It’s quite an attraction.”
Cleary added: “It’s probably one of the biggest rides we have had here. It spins, it dips, it twirls and you hurl.”
Gilmore explained that the Gravitron may be the ticket for those who aren’t ready to sign up for NASA.  “It’s like a space ship,” he said. “It gives a feeling of weightlessness. It lifts you off your feet.”
Another ride for the adventurous is the Wind Song. Gilmore said the ride has cup-like seating for about 10 people in each “and it mixes them up like it has an egg beater kind of action.”
Cleary also said fairgoers can look to see many other attractions like the Vertical Outlaws motorcycle stunt show and a BMX bike skateboard show put on by Maximum Velocity. He added that nightly live concerts will feature local talent. And, Kachunga and his alligators, a perennial favorite, will return to thrill visitors.
Admission is $10 including all rides. Games of chance and food are extra.