Union Fair organizers say there’s still so much more Final day’s schedule includes derby, thrills shows

UNION – The thrills ain’t gone yet.

Union Fair-Maine Wild Blueberry Festival ends today, but it’s not too late to check out Winn’s Galaxy of Thrills’ high-flying stunts show, which performs at 2 and 6 p.m.

And, there’s a whole bunch of fun and educational agricultural activities to enjoy throughout the day, which culminates with a demolition derby in the evening.

Winn’s Galaxy of Thrills’ performance consists of three distinctive routines, which include the Cyber Cycle motorcycle show, the 127-foot-high pole with trapeze and aerial space platform featuring Galaxy Girl, and Miss Ashley’s Hula Hoop Madness show.

“Even the people on the midway get to see something,” Elmer “Buddy” Savage said Friday of the aerial performances. “It’s a nice act. It’s good family entertainment.”

Today, the main attractions are the demolition derby finale at 7 p.m. at the grandstand, and, of course, it’s Children’s Day when all midway rides are reduced to $1.50 per ride.

Also, the big parade begins at 11 a.m. at the grandstand.

It’s been quite an exciting week for fairgoers and organizers.

The fair-festival had its biggest draw ever Monday during the performance of Little Big Town, a quartet of musicians considered rising stars in the country music world, Savage said. He figures there were about 6,000 in attendance at the concert.

“Crazy,” he said of the Little Big Town show. “It was nuts. Everybody was just up. That place was rocking.”

On Sunday, attendance was down a bit because of rain.

“It wasn’t a complete washout,” he said.

That night, Melissa Stearns, 22, of Rockland was crowned the 2006 Maine Wild Blueberry Queen and won a trophy, $1,500 cash, and roses. She is the daughter of Barbara Brosius of Rockland and is a 2002 graduate of Lighthouse Christian Academy, a Christian education home-school program.

The runner-up, Natasha Bryant, 19, of Friendship was named Crown Princess and Miss Congeniality. She won a trophy, roses, and $500 cash and $200 cash, respectively, for each title. She is the daughter of David and Holly Bryant of Friendship and a 2004 graduate of Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro.

On Friday morning, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to dedicate a new 5,000-square-foot building, complete with “real bathrooms,” Savage said. The building is called Blueberry Acres and houses the many blueberry-related events.

Twenty-seven students of the Midcoast School of Technology in Rockland made panels for the walls of the building, he said, crediting the young people for their help in building the $100,000 structure.

“We’ve made some improvements this year,” Savage said. “The entertainment speaks for itself.”