Maine's Common Ground Country Fair draws thousands to Unity to celebrate the harvest season
Shiloh, with the Morgan Family Farm, brings the oxen over to mingle with the curious at the Common Ground Country Fair 2025 in Unity. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
A good day at the fair usually ends with a full basket to take home. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Common Ground Fair 2025 (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Settling in to watch the commotion at the Common Ground Fair Common Ground Fair 2025 (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Queen and Dave Wacker, of Pittson, bring their repurposed bird feeders to the fair. They visit yard sales and the Goodwill stores to find suitable old coffee pots and tea kettles and refashion them into bird feeders. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Maine designed and produced clothing is a growing market at the Common Ground Fair over the last decade. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Energy efficiency is a strong focus at the Common Ground Fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Coffee line at the fair. Back in the old days, the sale of coffee was not condoned at the Common Ground Fair. The Coffee Man — Doug Hufnagel, of Lincolnville, thought that was (rightly so) ridiculous and set up a coffee stand right outside the fairground. He had a brisk trade for many years until MOFGA decided that coffee was no longer a bad thing. Now, gourmet coffee is part of the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Making fish tacos at the Enchanted Kitchen of Firefly Farm in St. Albans. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Mark Dittrick and Tara Butler, both of Belfast, steward a compost station at the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Tara Butler, of Belfast, with Fairy Erin, of Corinna.(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The food at the fair has only gotten more diverse and delicious as the years progress. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Alternative, energy efficient housing models to talk about. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
In class, learning about solar power. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The crew from Heiwa Tofu, of Rockport. Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Poncho Bailey, of Knox, has been a restroom greeter for the last three years at the Common Ground Fair and loves it. "I meet a lot of people," she said. She wears different costumes each day and loves her volunteer post. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Justin Domenech, Correctional Trad Supervisor at Mountain View Correctional Facility, in Charleston, with Mark McBrine, Director of Farm to Table, Maine Department of Corrections and Derek Smith, Correctional Industries Manager of Agriculture and Building Trades for the Maine State Prison, talk about the evolution of cultivating whole foods for Maine prisoners — The "Seeds of Change", a 2023 documentary about McBrine's successful efforts to transform the prison's food system will be featured again Oct. 14 at a Colby College "Maine Farm and Sea to Institution Summit."
Pounding nails starts young. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Sliding on cardboard at the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Unity Fire Department offers the chance to gong the bell with a show of strength and technique. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
One of the many candidates for Maine Governor, Rick Bennett, and Independent, was at the fair to meet and greet voters. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Teaching the young. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The Wednesday Spinners were at the fair, just as they have been since 1977. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The Wednesday Spinners, "gutsy Down East women who spin every Wednesday at each other's homes, have been spinning together as a group at the Fair since 1978," said MOFGA. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The Wednesday Spinners, "gutsy Down East women who spin every Wednesday at each other's homes, have been spinning together as a group at the Fair since 1978," said MOFGA. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Beedy Parker, of Camden, gives insight to composting from the Common Throne. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Tilling the soil with horse power (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Taking care of the trash generated by fairgoers. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Transporting the trash from bins to the recycling center. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Appleton's Glendarragh Farm, which also has a store in Camden, does a brisk trade at the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
A good day at the fair usually ends with a full basket to take home. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Sweet Annie, a fragrant perennial favorite at the fair always leaves in bunches. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Not welcome at the fair.
Shiloh, with the Morgan Family Farm, brings the oxen over to mingle with the curious at the Common Ground Country Fair 2025 in Unity. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
A good day at the fair usually ends with a full basket to take home. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Common Ground Fair 2025 (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Settling in to watch the commotion at the Common Ground Fair Common Ground Fair 2025 (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Queen and Dave Wacker, of Pittson, bring their repurposed bird feeders to the fair. They visit yard sales and the Goodwill stores to find suitable old coffee pots and tea kettles and refashion them into bird feeders. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Maine designed and produced clothing is a growing market at the Common Ground Fair over the last decade. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Energy efficiency is a strong focus at the Common Ground Fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Coffee line at the fair. Back in the old days, the sale of coffee was not condoned at the Common Ground Fair. The Coffee Man — Doug Hufnagel, of Lincolnville, thought that was (rightly so) ridiculous and set up a coffee stand right outside the fairground. He had a brisk trade for many years until MOFGA decided that coffee was no longer a bad thing. Now, gourmet coffee is part of the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Making fish tacos at the Enchanted Kitchen of Firefly Farm in St. Albans. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Mark Dittrick and Tara Butler, both of Belfast, steward a compost station at the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Tara Butler, of Belfast, with Fairy Erin, of Corinna.(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The food at the fair has only gotten more diverse and delicious as the years progress. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Alternative, energy efficient housing models to talk about. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
In class, learning about solar power. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The crew from Heiwa Tofu, of Rockport. Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Poncho Bailey, of Knox, has been a restroom greeter for the last three years at the Common Ground Fair and loves it. "I meet a lot of people," she said. She wears different costumes each day and loves her volunteer post. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Justin Domenech, Correctional Trad Supervisor at Mountain View Correctional Facility, in Charleston, with Mark McBrine, Director of Farm to Table, Maine Department of Corrections and Derek Smith, Correctional Industries Manager of Agriculture and Building Trades for the Maine State Prison, talk about the evolution of cultivating whole foods for Maine prisoners — The "Seeds of Change", a 2023 documentary about McBrine's successful efforts to transform the prison's food system will be featured again Oct. 14 at a Colby College "Maine Farm and Sea to Institution Summit."
Pounding nails starts young. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Sliding on cardboard at the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Unity Fire Department offers the chance to gong the bell with a show of strength and technique. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
One of the many candidates for Maine Governor, Rick Bennett, and Independent, was at the fair to meet and greet voters. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Teaching the young. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The Wednesday Spinners were at the fair, just as they have been since 1977. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The Wednesday Spinners, "gutsy Down East women who spin every Wednesday at each other's homes, have been spinning together as a group at the Fair since 1978," said MOFGA. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The Wednesday Spinners, "gutsy Down East women who spin every Wednesday at each other's homes, have been spinning together as a group at the Fair since 1978," said MOFGA. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Beedy Parker, of Camden, gives insight to composting from the Common Throne. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Tilling the soil with horse power (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Taking care of the trash generated by fairgoers. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Transporting the trash from bins to the recycling center. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Appleton's Glendarragh Farm, which also has a store in Camden, does a brisk trade at the fair. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
(Photo by Lynda Clancy)
A good day at the fair usually ends with a full basket to take home. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Sweet Annie, a fragrant perennial favorite at the fair always leaves in bunches. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Freedom firefighters greet the motorists with the boot, a tradition of raising funds for the fire department. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Not welcome at the fair.
UNITY — "Going up (over, down) to the fair this weekend?" Doesn't matter in what part of the State of Maine one might be living, the question is likely repeated thousands of times in late September, and references but one event — the Common Ground Country Fair, held each year around the Autumnal Equinox.
It is collective celebration of the harvest and rural living, and is hosted by the Maine Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) at its headquarters in Unity, in the heart of Waldo County.
This year, the Fair could not have coincided with more splendid weather, drought aside. Skies were clear and blue, and the air had a little nip to it, all perfect for strolling, chatting, exploring, learning, eating and visiting with old friends. As it is every year, the Common Ground Fair took place at MOFGA's fairgrounds in Unity.
This year, the fair began Friday, Sept. 19, when school children moved energetically across the grass, meeting the horses, herding dogs, sheep and livestock, or hunkered down at various exhibits to learn more about Maine's agricultural heritage.
Saturday morning brought the traffic streaming in from all corners of the state, from the Portland region and points south; the Midcoast and all the back roads through Waldo County; the Bangor and Northwestern Maine and Down East traffic circuiting over the rises and falls of the state's rural routes.
It was lively at the entrance gates all day, and the fair grounds central open lawn, known as The Common, drew a huge crowd at lunchtime, where music and good cheer prevailed.
The Common Ground Fair focuses on farming, but it is also where artisans bring their Maine-made goods, gardeners bring their produce, and classes focusing on self-sufficient living, farming, animal husbandry and green energy are intersperced with tents filled with products filling that mission.
"Each and every fairgoer and volunteer has a story, amazing talents, and something to contribute" said April Boucher, Common Ground Country Fair Director. "This is what makes the fair community not only a place to connect to our roots, but also a place to grow."
The first Common Ground fair was in 1977 in Litchfield, six years after the founding of MOFGA. It was a much smaller event, but it was intent then, just as it is today, on representing efforts to cultivate healthier and more sustainable ways to grow and raise food, build homes and cultivate communities.
Forty-eight some odd years later, and MOFGA remains true to its mission to, “advocate for organic agriculture, illuminating its interdependence with a healthy environment, local food production, and thriving communities.”
Back in 1977, and still today, fair-goers parked their vehicles (many Saabs, Datsuns and Peugeots then, and many Hondas, Toyotas, Fords and Volvos these days) in the fields and walked to the fairgrounds. But the September grass and skies have not changed: the hay is turning brown and pungent, and the wild flowers are making their last blooms before the first frost.
This past weekend, car models had changed, and license plates were from all over, but still Maine-heavy, and a good number of attendees had been born way after the 1970s. Still, it is the Common Ground Country Fair — robust, creative, and full of love for the land.
