The 27th annual Crook Farm Country Fair brought more than 1,000
people to the historic site for festivities over the weekend,
despite the rainy weather.

Anne Bouquin,ðassistant treasurer of the Bradford Landmark
Society, which organizes the fair, and treasurer for the fair,
itself,ðsaid Sunday night that 1,292 attendees paid at the gate on
Saturday.

That’s 172 more people than the Saturday of last year’s fair,
she said. On Sunday, when the rain was harder and lasted longer,
only about 124 people attended, she said. Last year, 1,000 more
people attended, she said.

Bouquin added the numbers do not reflect attendance exactly, as
those volunteers who came were not charged, and therefore not
counted.

“We were pretty well flooded (on Sunday),” Bouquin said.

She said the Doerfel Family out of Springville, N.Y., kept the
show going Sunday, despite the rain. By 4 p.m., however, most
attendees were leaving, so the fair – which was slated to last
until 5 p.m. -ðwrapped up just a little early.

“We were all pretty wet by then,” Bouquin said.

She went on to say The Church Street Blues Band out of Ohio,
which also plays folk and gospel tunes, was a highlight on
Saturday.

“There were people sitting outside of the (jam) tent because
they couldn’t all fit inside,” she said.

There were three squares at the public square dance, she said,
which was also pretty well attended.

Next year, Bouquin said, the fair organizers are looking at
having more of music festival than ever before. She said attendees
seemed not so much interesting in shopping for crafts, and more
interested in the musical performers.

That being the case, organizers are planning to invite more
musical acts and to have more than one act performing at a time, so
attendees can pick and choose who they want to watch.

Bouquin also said the Bucktail Regiment Civil War re-enactors
were a big hit. They had a couple “skirmishes,” she said, adding
the participants camped out on the site of the fair both Friday and
Saturday nights behind the main house.

“We really appreciate the public support in spite of weather,”
Bouquin said. “We’re really happy for that.”

Crook Farm Country Fair chairman Bob Esch said Sunday night he
was just returning from the fair grounds.

“We hope to build on this weekend (next year), but without the
rain,” Esch said. He agreed with Bouquin that the musical
performers, as well as the Bucktail Regiment, seemed to be the most
well-liked events.

“The additional music this year was a real success,” Esch said,
“as well as the Bucktail Regiment and their cannon.” He said the
Civil War re-enactors fired a cannon several times over the two
days, and boasted they were ridding the farm of its mosquitoes with
all the smoke.

“Saturday was a huge success,” he said. “It was bigger and
better than last year. (Sunday) was a bit of a disappointment, he
said, adding there were still people who braved the rain,
however.

“They’re the die-hards,” he laughed.

Esch also said the organizers will need more volunteers for next
year’s fair.

The fair is held annually at the location of the former Crook
Family Farm on Seaward Avenue, which was purchased by the Bradford
Landmark Society in 1974. The two-day event is one of the society’s
biggest fundraisers, and boasts live music, dancing, craft vendors
selling old-time, hand-made products, face-painting, a petting zoo
and pony rides, contests, guided tours of the historic buildings
and food vendors.