CUMBERLAND – Traditional as apples in Maine, the 143rd annual Cumberland County Fair gets the fall season under way on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the fairgrounds on

Blanchard Road in Cumberland.

“Everything is shaping up very well,” Mike Timmons, fair president, said on Monday. “We’ll be up and running at 8 a.m. on Sunday.”

The fair continues through Saturday, Sept. 27. Admission is $9 daily; seniors, $3 on Tuesday and Thursday; and children 12 and under, free. Ample parking is free.

Timmons expects up to 50,000 to attend the fair for the week, if the sun shines. Features of the fair, which began in 1868, include 4-H and agricultural shows, midway with amusement rides, games and food; pig races; entertainment; demolition derby; and harness racing. The Rawhide Rodeo, returns with bull riding and a daily children’s rodeo.

A slate of events at the fair this year is in honor of a horseman, Donnie Richards, 80, of Yarmouth, who survived a harness racing incident involving a horse in his barn during the past winter at the Cumberland fairgrounds.

Richards was kicked in the face in January and sustained serious injuries. Timmons said Richards wants to recognize Cumberland Rescue for saving his life. “He’s recovered quite well,” Timmons said.

In one event, Girls on the Run, a nonprofit group of Cumberland County elementary school students, will be garbed in orange and black, which are Richards’ racing colors. Timmons said the group of 350 girls will officially open the fair this year and they’ll walk around the track at 9 a.m.

For a complete fair schedule, go to cumberlandfair.com and click on daily schedule PDF. The Cumberland Fair office can be reached at 829-5531.