From MOFGA

UNITY – Tickets for the 45th annual Common Ground Country Fair are on sale now for the premier event of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association that will take place on Sept. 24-26 in in Unity.

“We are looking forward to supporting a safe and healthy event in person this year,” said April Boucher, the fair’s director. Boucher added, “In order to facilitate a safe event we are asking all fairgoers to purchase tickets in advance of arriving at the gates to minimize congestion and lines, and so that we can cap attendance at a number that supports social distancing.”

MOFGA’s annual celebration of rural living will continue to offer something for everyone this year, even though many aspects will be a bit different. The events and layout of the fair have been reworked to reduce congestion and long lines, and increased sanitization will be in place. The unique nature of the fair will remain the same in that it will feature hundreds of exhibitors and activities centered around sustainable living, from fiber arts to green building, live music, children’s activities, and organic foods from around Maine.

Adding to the fair’s draw is its setting: MOFGA’s Common Ground Education center, which doubles as the fairgrounds, includes a sustainably managed woodlot as well as organic orchards and demonstration gardens. This landscape provides an ideal backdrop for demonstrations on low-impact forestry, organic farming and gardening, livestock management and other aspects of rural living to take place during the three days of the fair. 

An exciting lineup of keynote speakers — Karen Washington, co-owner and farmer at Rise & Root Farm and co-founder of Black Urban Growers; Amara Ifeji, a 19-year-old climate justice activist; and Stacy Brenner, an organic farmer and Maine State Senator — will address food justice issues, including food security, climate change, land justice and farmworker rights. 

Tickets for the event are now available at MOFGA’s website (mofga.org). Fairgoers will receive their tickets via email, and can download them to a smart phone or print them out to be scanned at the gate. Fairgoers who do not have access to the internet may purchase tickets over the phone by calling 207-568-6049 during business hours on Wednesdays.

Advance pricing, available until Sept. 22 – adults (18-64) — $14; elders (65+) — $10; youth (13-17) — $10; children (12 and under) — free daily; and persons with disabilities — free daily for them and an attending person.

School groups are free on Friday, Sept. 24.

Volunteers receive free admission for the day of their four-hour volunteer shift, plus an iconic Common Ground Country Fair T-shirt and other benefits.

MOFGA members receive complimentary fair tickets based on membership level.

All tickets must be reserved in advance, including free tickets.

For information about attending the fair, visit mofga.org.