Grange Fair Kicks Off

Ed Twinning looked around the Middletown Grange Fair on opening day Wednesday and recalled his family’s involvement in the annual event.

The 70-year-old Newtown resident said his father was involved with turning a magazine contest in 1948  into the annual festival that has become a Bucks County tradition. He recalls the event moving from growing bushels of corn for the contest to what it has become today.

Twinning said he has volunteered in many roles during his lifetime and watched the Grange Fair evolve. Working from setting up speakers and getting the fairgrounds in Wrightstown in tip-top shape, Twinning said he’s proud to have helped the event during his lifetime. To this day, Twinning continues to volunteer by shucking corn to help feed visitors.

On Wednesday, children and their families gathered under the summer sun to watch pigs and small dogs race around a track while others ran to take a whirl on amusement rides. A few yards away, cooks prepared fresh BBQ and local farmers trimmed the hair on their cows and educated youngsters about farm animals.

At the Middletown Grange, this is summer and it’s what brings families together.

“It’s, for me, become a great part of the summer,” Bucks County Commissioner Robert G. Loughery said.

“This is something everyone from this area does in summer. It’s fun, it’s entertaining and there is so much to do here. You’ve got animals for the kids to pet, music from the teenagers and vendors for the big kids, us adults,” said Michele McKenith of High Bridge, New Jersey. The mother with two of her kids in tow is originally from the Yardley area and has been coming to the fair for as long as she can remember.

The fair continues until Sunday.