Item has discount Topsfield Fair tickets

TOPSFIELD – The Flying Wallendas, the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, concerts by Disney Channel star Bridget Mendler and pop rock band Hot Chelle Rae, and maybe even a world-record breaking pumpkin are all part of the 194th Topsfield Fair, Friday, Sept. 28 through Monday, Oct. 8.The Daily Item is again selling advance, discounted tickets for The Topsfield Fair at $9 per ticket, a savings of $2 for regular weekday Fair entrance and savings of $6 for weekend admission.Last week Topsfield Fair management held its annual press party to draw attention to this year?s Fair happenings.?We feel like we really have a good lineup this year with the Canadian Royal Mounted Police,” said Topsfield Fair General Manager James O?Brien. “Everybody enjoys them and they?ll have two shows the opening Saturday and on Sunday and one every other day through Friday.”As for the Great Pumpkin Weigh-off, which will be held from 4-9 p.m. on opening Friday, Sept. 28, O?Brien said, “I?m not going to tell any secrets but there?s a big one out there.”The Fair has had previous world-record setters and one year had two record-setters 20 minutes apart.?That?s only happened at Topsfield,” said Lynn native and giant pumpkin grower George Hoomis of Ipswich.His wife, Mary Ann Hoomis, also a Lynn native, noted the Fair awards about $12,000 in prize money for the giant pumpkin winners, and $5,500 for first place.?And in addition to that prize money we?re offering $10,000 for the first pumpkin that breaks 2,000 pounds,” O?Brien said, who joked that the two things the Topsfield Fair is best known for are traffic and giant pumpkins.?The contest opens Friday night, we?ll start weighing at 4 p.m. and hope to have a winner by 9 p.m.,” George Hoomis said. He noted the current world record is 1,818 pounds.O?Brien said he anticipated 500,000 people to take in this year?s fair, and more than 25,000 schoolchildren who will attend free.O?Brien said education is what the Topsfield Fair is all about, and the Fair has developed nine curriculum programs that schoolchildren throughout the county participate in three weeks before the fair starts. “And when they come to the fair they have actual schoolwork to do here,” he said. O?Brien said the Fair also feeds many of the children – 500 for three days during the week – for free.?We have to get the kids here to educate them and we make it as easy as possible for them to get here,” he said.Topsfield Fair Board President Bruce Potter also touted the 25 $1,000 scholarships the Fair issues to youths throughout the country, applications for which are issued to every high school in the region.O?Brien said there is additional parking for the Fair this year and on weekends satellite lots will be open at North Shore Community College in Danvers and at Masconomet Regional High School.Look for more information about the Fair later this month in The Item?s annual special Topsfield Fair schedule and highlights guide.To get your advance discount Fair tickets, visit The Daily Item at 38 Exchange St., Lynn during weekday office hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by Sept. 26. Tickets are cash only and $1 of each ticket supports The Item?s Newspapers In Education program.Sean Leonard can be reached at [email protected].