HARMONY – Taking a quick break from organizing the Harmony Free Fair on Friday, Jeff Chadbourne couldn’t say enough about the community spirit in this small Somerset County town that is celebrating its bicentennial.

Chadbourne, president of the Patriarchs Club which sponsors the annual fair Friday through Sunday, said residents are always willing to pitch in where necessary to make one of the state’s few remaining free fairs a success.

But this year required even more commitment, he said, because the town is celebrating its bicentennial at the same time as the three-day fair. “I think it really pulls this community together – this fair,” he said.

Fifty-six years ago, a group of local men decided to hold a fair to repay a loan they had signed for the construction of a gymnasium, according to Chadbourne. That fair served as a springboard for the formation of the Patriarchs Club, a club that has carried on the tradition of offering a free fair to residents and visitors alike.

But that free admission is getting harder to offer each year because of rising insurance premiums, according to Chadbourne. The club had to absorb a 17 percent increase in rates last year and a 20 percent increase this year, even though there have been no mishaps at the events. It just makes the members work harder to find other ways to raise funds to continue the “free” fair, he said.

On Friday, founding members of the club and their sons and grandsons were working diligently to ensure everything was in working order for opening day. Chadbourne said preparations actually began a month ago, but special projects are done throughout the year to improve the grounds. For instance, club members and volunteers installed a new entrance to the 12-acre fairgrounds, organized a new truck pull area and constructed a new stage within the last two years.

Chadbourne promised this year’s fair would be “bigger and better” than ever. A new midway will be offered by Don Farrington Amusements of Machias, and fireworks will be discharged Sunday in observance of the town’s milestone.

A two-mile-long parade will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday with a theme of “Ode to the Bicentennial,” organized by Paul Herrick, an 83-year-old native of the town. He said the town was organized on June 15, 1803, and currently has two mills: Creative Apparel and Bartlett Mills. The latter firm has been a part of the town since 1821.

Herrick and Chadbourne said a variety of other activities will be offered at the fair. There will be a truck pull and a dance Saturday, a demolition derby, an all-terrain vehicle pull, and fireworks Sunday, and entertainment throughout the weekend. Performances will be given by Midnight Rose, Chris Prickett and the Abbott Hill Ramblers, Evergreen, radio host Bob Elston, and female country vocalist of the year Teresa Elliott.

Fairgoers can participate in the skillet throw, frog-jumping contest, hammer throw and horseshoe tournament, visit the exhibits, or watch the horse and pony pulling events.

Proceeds from the fair are invested in the community. In the past, the club has helped purchase an ambulance and park land for the town, provided scholarship money, a camera for the fire department, and a piano and computers for the school.

Chadbourne hopes the public will continue its support of the fair. “It’s a nice little country fair,” he said.