All year long, Hebron and the rest of the country has been celebrating the 250th birthday of the nation. On Friday, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks was marked with remembrance and resilience. And on Thursday, the gates to the Hebron Harvest Fairgrounds opened for the 55th time.
The Hebron Lions Club not only marked the two dates of national importance along with its own anniversary, but took the opportunity to appreciate community spirit and support that makes the annual fair such an popular event, and also keeps both the town and the country strong.
The Lions Club brought back a tradition that has been absent for many years, with an Opening Day Parade. The Marlborough Junior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps marched through the fairgrounds, shortly after the gates opened at 4 p.m. Thursday, leading local and state officials, political candidates, fair administrators and special guests that included Miss Connecticut.
A ceremony followed the parade, and other special guests included Sara Coffey and Jacqueline Coffey, both of Hebron. Sara Coffey was there to deliver the 2026 Fair Dedication, which this year honors those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, one of whom was her brother, David Winton, was in the South Tower of the World Trade Center when it was attacked. Jacqueline Coffey, Sara’s daughter, gave a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled banner, before Sara presented her remarks.
“David was a beloved son, brother, fiance and friend,” Coffey said, who noted that after the attacks, she left her corporate career and became a school counselor to be able to make more of a positive difference in her community, something the fair organizers also strive to do.
“The Hebron Harvest Fair has always been about bringing people together,” Coffey said. “This year we ask you to remember the thousands of lives lost and the heroic first responders who answered the call of duty and still do. We remember to look forward with gratitude, hope and compassion.”
Christa Steiner, the reigning Miss Connecticut, is a Hebron native and also gave one of the welcoming addresses at the ceremony. She talked about her experience competing in the 2027 Miss America pageant earlier this week, and noted the fact that representatives from other stats were most surprised to learn about herself was that Connecticut, and specifically her hometown and surrounding areas, were known for their farms.
“I live in Cow-necticut,” Steiner said, as she formally announced the opening of the 2026 fair. “And I’m very, very proud to be Miss Connecticut. The thing I love about Connecticut most is that we are a state of small towns. Hebron, welcome to your fair.”
And Hebron residents definitely turned out in force Thursday night, traditionally known as Hometown Night. But residents also came in droves from surrounding towns and from towns on the other side of the state, and even from the State Capitol, with Governor Ned Lamont in attendance along with Democratic State Senator Cathy Osten of the 19th district, Republican 19th district challenger Jason Guidone and Democratic challenger for the 55th state house district Ellen Paul.
With the opening parade brought back, lines of people ready to enter the fair stretched way beyond the ticket windows well before 4 p.m., and an hour before the start of the fan-favorite Demolition Derby Thursday night, the line of vehicles still waiting to enter the fair snaked from the gates of the fairgrounds all the way down 85 as far as the entrance to Holbrook Pond on the south side, and equally as long on the north side.
Among those waiting in the long line at the ticket gate at 3:45 p.m. Thursday were Edwina Liu and Paris Van Meter, both freshmen at the regional RHAM High School in Hebron. Liu lives in Hebron and Van Meter in Marlborough. Both girls have been attending the fair all their lives, but this was their first time attending without their families.
Commemorations were just one part of the fair; celebrating the fair’s rural roots are one of the biggest parts. Exhibitions range from a quilt in shades of blue depicting an elephant, Lego figurine collections and flower bouquest, to photographs, livestock and baked goods.
“The Hebron Harvest Fair remains a celebration of agriculture,” said Hebron Lion Krystin Strumskas, addding the fair exhibitions are the results of “months of hard work and dedication.”
But there other facets to the fair as well, all centered around entertainment. Dreamland Amusements returns this year to provide the carnival midway all weekend long, with the largest Ferris wheel around. Food choices are wide-ranging, from cheeseburgers sold by the Hebron Lions, to chicken parmesan Chompers sold by a food truck of the same name, to chili cheese dogs, chicken tenders, curry and chocolate ice cream offered by vendors across the fairgrounds. There are two adult beverage tents and a large children’s educatonal play area. Showtimes all weekend long include racing pigs, diving canines and a show merging dinosaurs and dogs called Jurassic Park, as well as the headlining band “Better Than Ezra” taking the main stage at 3 p.m. Sunday, all included in the price of admission.
Among those enjoying all the different options Thursday were a family from Glastonbury.
“My thing is the monster trucks,” said Oliver, who is nearly 6.
“My thing is the food,” said his 9-year-old sister Grace, between bites of a large slice of pizza.
“We come every year,” said their mother, Julia. “Grace came for the first time when she was three months old.”
During his remarks at the opening ceremony, Fair Superintendent Mike Kozyra said those who attend the fair have a bigger role than they may know, with proceeds benefitting the Lion Club’s local and national charitable giving.
“What a wonderful sight to see so many faces,” Kozyra said. “Your support is more than cotton candy or rides. It’s what supports the community. We hope every person here feels the love.”
To feel and share the the community love yourself, head to the fairgrounds at 347 Gilead Street/Route 85 in Hebron. Admission at the gate is $20 per person, with no separate parking fees this year. Children under the age of 10 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.