Spending a Day at the Washington County Fair
With our acclaimed beaches, al fresco dining possibilities and geographical diversity, it’s easy to want to constantly be outdoors in Rhode Island as soon as summer hits. Since 1967, the Washington County Fair in Richmond has provided old-timey family fun for New Englanders, making it a popular attraction with activities like truck and tractor pulls, pie-eating contests and amusement park rides.
Michael Camacho, Lillian Hannafin and Laila Ritchotte, of Briarberry Farm in West Greenwich, pose with show cow Janie outside of their barn stand. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
For five days in August, this year from Aug. 13–17, the scent of freshly popped kettle corn, sounds of bells ringing as people celebrate midway game victories, and sights of farm animals become the norm for Rhode Island locals and visitors alike.
The Washington County Fair’s fifty-eight-year-old legacy provides attendees with an affordable, family-friendly escape during the month of August. The celebration of agriculture grants a behind-the-scenes look at farm life, with an entire agricultural building complete with flower, vegetable and grange exhibits. Farm animals are the focus during the fair’s livestock shows, where Ocean Staters can look on in awe as farmers proudly parade their prized animals around. Artists are spotlighted during the fair’s needlework, ceramics and photography exhibits, while bakers
have their chance to shine in various baking contests. Other friendly contests include a cornhole tournament, arm wrestling contest, and don’t forget about the annual tug-o-war, where channeling your inner animal, while being surrounded by them, is encouraged. In the spirit of family-friendly fun, kids can enjoy activities like three-legged races, egg tosses, mooing contests and more farm-related games. Live music is heard as guests snack on food from the many vendors. The only thing patrons should worry about, aside from figuring out how many corn dogs are too many, is which straw hat they’ll wear during the five-day event. Photographer Maaike Bernstrom spent a day capturing fairgoers at the annual event. washingtoncountyfair-ri.com
Brooklen Tucker, of RR Show Pigs in North Stonington, Conn., holds a Hampshire Cross pig in the pig pen. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Block Island mom and son, Julie and Jack Kiley, go to the fair every year with their family from Brooklyn, Conn., including Ayla and Wes Wojick and Peter Garosshen. Kitschy painted setups around the fairgrounds invite attendees to snap a photo capturing the fun of the day. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Nettie Hartley and Autumn Whitaker, concession stand workers, sell roughly 5,000 corn dogs and 700 pounds of onion rings from Wednesday to Sunday to hungry fair-goers. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Fair attendees parade around the grounds on tractors. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Olivia Myers poses with a baby cow from her and her sister Emily’s farm, Grumpy Girls Farm. Myers was the Princess of the 2023 Washington County Fair and kept up with her duties by helping contestants showcase their artwork during the 2024 Mini Prince and Princess contest. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Kaylin Couto, of Rodfame Farm in Middletown, takes home Grand Champion Beef Showman amongst other awards pictured in hand. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Clara Mayhew of Richmond shows off her third-place ribbons for the Fall Ayrshire calf class open and youth show, along with her show cow, Oake Knoll MB Rumor Has It. The Mayhew family of Cottrell Homestead has been exhibiting purebred Ayrshire cattle at the fair since it began. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Gibson William Ross, of Brushy Brook Farm in Hope Valley, guides one of his cows by a leash. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Cooper O’Keefe, a member of the Suffolk Sheep Breed Association, holds up the head and neck of Dorper, the black-headed sheep, as it gets inspected during a sheep show. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Kid-friendly contests include potato sack racing, corn shucking and a milking contest, pictured here. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Sophie Hanson, the 2024 Washington County Fair Princess, sits with Little Prince & Princess contestants Isla and Declan Richards, as they hold up their artwork for the drawing contest. Hanson, a member of the Richmond Grange and an attendee of the festival since birth, usually volunteers in the kitchen during the fair, but managed to compete for the first time in the Washington County Fair Queen and Princess contest. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
A man holds the reins to a pair of oxen as they move around the fairgrounds. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
he fair is a fun location for family outings, get-togethers with friends, and even date nights, complete with fried food to munch on while enjoying the atmosphere with that special someone. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Pie is smeared on Chace and Colin Frail’s faces after competing in the annual pie-eating contest. They aim to win the contest like their mother, Robyn, did when she was a young girl at the fair. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Siblings Amelia, Bobby and Vinny, all donning cowboy hats, watch the annual egg toss competition. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Giant bubbles float by at the bubble shows put on every day by Mik’s Mega Bubbles at Stage ’67. Kids look on in awe or attempt to pop the bubbles. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Kids stand on stepstools in an attempt to win various prizes at the Pick-a-Duck midway game. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Autumn Whitaker and Nettie Hartley hold corndogs as they stand out in front of the corn dog and onion ring stand. Hartley is the past National Junior Grange Ambassador as well as the daughter of National Assistant Steward Walter Hartley. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
Izzy Budrock and Koda Grundy slide down the colorful Super Slide. Photography by Maaike Bernstrom Photography
