Concerts to hit high notes for Bangor State Fair

BANGOR – Country, Christian or a cappella, concerts will highlight the 153rd Bangor State Fair July 26-Aug.4.

Regular admission is $6, $4 for seniors and $2 for children under age 12. On Young at Heart Day, Monday, July 29, anyone over age 60 will be admitted to the fair for $1. Wristband Days, July 30 and Aug. 1, offer an unlimited-ride wristband for $12. To obtain information, or to purchase show tickets, call 990-4444.

The Alley Cats, a 1950s doo-wop a cappella group, kick off the fair’s musical events at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27, on the grandstand stage. Their album “Cruisin'” won an award in 1999 for best doo-wop song with “Tears on My Pillow.” This show is free with the price of fair admission.

Country singer Brad Paisley, a Grammy Award nominee, performs at 7 p.m. Monday, July 29, at the Bangor Auditorium. Jenny Paquette of Kennebunkport and winner of a Country Music Association female vocalist of the year award in 1998, opens for Paisley. To save the $6 fair admission fee, the concert tickets, which cost $19.50, must be purchased before July 29.

Grammy Award winner and Christian vocalist Rebecca St. James will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, also at the Bangor Auditorium. She will sing music from her latest album, “worshipGOD.” The cost of the concert is $15, which covers the cost of fair admission if purchased before July 30.

Mac McHale & the Old-Time Radio Gang with special guests The Gene Hooper Show and 18-year-old fiddler Erica Brown perform at 8 p.m. Monday, July 29, on the grandstand stage. The Old-Time Radio Gang, from southern Maine, offers music from the 1930s and ’40s, which includes fiddle tunes, gospel songs, trains songs and ballads.

Machias native Gene Hooper, whose career in country music spans 60 years, got his start in country music at age 16 broadcasting on radio stations in Bangor. His wife, Flo Hooper, is known for her country yodeling songs. This show is free with the price of fair admission.

At the Legends of Wrestling: Northeast Championship Professional Wrestling event 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, well-known wrestlers will do their wicked best to put Bangor in a hammerlock. The cost of the show is $10 and covers the price of fair admission if tickets are purchased before Aug. 3.

The Blue Hill Brass Quintet will do roaming performances at the fair throughout the week. Organ grinder Tony Marconi will stroll the fairgrounds cranking out polkas, waltzes, marches, tangos and other traditional organ grinder music.

Other events free with the price of admission include the Demolition Derby at 8 p.m. July 26 and 4 p.m. July 28, Reptile Adventures, Monster Truck Show, Granpa Cratchet and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show.

The fair salutes hometown heroes Sunday, Aug. 4., when all Maine firefighters, police officers and their families are admitted free of charge. The annual Firefighters Muster will take place that day.

Bangor State Fair continues to celebrate its agricultural roots with 4-H events such as sheep, rabbit, goat and cattle shows; horse, oxen and pony pulling; Old MacDonald’s Farm and a pet show.

Competitions include a photo contest, the national Spam contest, a 4-H poster contest and the Fleischmann’s yeast bread competition. Exhibits of arts and crafts, flowers and plants, needlework and vegetable garden produce round out Bangor State Fair events.