Frequently Asked Questions
The Common Ground Country Fair will be at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine on September 22, 23 and 24, 2023. The fairgrounds are open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MOFGA’s annual celebration of rural living features 1000-plus exhibitors and speakers, and emphasizes vibrant communities, sustainable living and local economies, while highlighting organic agriculture. Browse our full schedule for 2023 in August!
General FAQ
The 2023 Common Ground Country Fair will be held at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine, on September 22, 23 and 24. The fairgrounds are open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Fair schedule is now available online. Please click here to see it.
The list of Fair participants is now available online. Click here to see who is exhibiting the Fair this year!
- We encourage everyone to do a self health assessment before attending. If you are sick, please follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
- A more spacious Fair layout will allow the possibility for people to socially distance if they choose.
- Attendees are welcome to wear a mask if they choose.
- We ask fairgoers to consider wearing a mask when enjoying the Exhibition Hall, one of the few enclosed spaces at the Fair, which is often crowded.
- We will follow the state, federal and CDC mandates and guidelines.
- We are not limiting attendance or doing daily attendance caps.
- We are not instituting any fair-wide COVID-19 mandates.
Ticketing
Online: Tickets will be on sale in advance here. Order tickets by September 20 for advance ticket pricing. Please note that tickets are non-refundable.
In Person: Tickets can be purchased in person at advance ticket pricing at The Maine Organic Marketplace at 55 Main Street in Freeport through Sunday, September 17. This is the only in-person advance ticket outlet in 2023.
Please call the Fair office at 207-568-6041 before September 3 to discuss your options.
Visit our member ticket page to learn more.
Yes, but only on Friday. Please check back to this page to pre-register before the Fair. You will be reimbursed for mileage.
Unfortunately no, we are not able to provide a refund on tickets.
Participating in the Fair
You can sign up for a four hour volunteer shift here. Volunteer shifts become available June 1.
To find out more about volunteering at the Fair, or other year-round volunteer opportunities, please visit our volunteer page.
For one four hour volunteer shift, you will receive a Fair volunteer T-shirt, Fair admission for the day you work, one meal at the Common Kitchen on the day you work and camping privileges (one night per shift, either the night before or the night after your shift). To find out more about volunteer benefits, please visit our volunteer page.
Visit our vendors and applications page to see if the area you’re interested in applying to is still accepting applications. If your area’s application is no longer open, you can fill out the Common Ground Country Fair Interest Form to be put on the waitlist for this year and to be notified when applications become available for next year’s Fair.
There are many other ways you can get involved and participate in the Fair!
Exhibition Hall: Bring your vegetables, fruits, artwork, etc. to be displayed in the Exhibition Hall! Find out more about how to be a part of the Exhibition Hall here.
Common Ground 5K: Runners and walkers of all ages are invited to join us on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. to be a part of the only organic footrace in Maine! Pre-registration is encouraged and is available here.
Harry S. Truman Manure Pitch Off: Be a part of one of the Common Ground Country Fair’s most unique activities! On Saturday and Sunday you can test your manure throwing skills. Participation is limited, so sign up early on the day of the contest if you want to compete. Come by if you want to cheer.
Fleece Tent and Show: Knowing that variety is the key to a good sale, the Fleece Tent coordinators encourage all interested producers to take part. Producers wishing to pre-register should contact Meredith Toumayan to register at 207-722-3087 or [email protected]. Find out more about the Fleece Tent and Show here.
Bike to the Fair: Pedal to the Fair and get a cheerful welcome and first-class bike valet parking, compliments of our wonderful Fair volunteers, in addition to a special thank you treat for biking to the Fair. Find our Park & Pedal map here.
Draft Horse Show: Participate in the Draft Horse Show on Sunday and demonstrate the beauty, intelligence and versatility of draft horses. Please complete the Draft Horse Show Entry Form to enter.
Donkey and Mule Show: Join us on Saturday morning to show off all the neat things your donkeys and mules can do. From hauling logs to completing obstacles and playing games, come to the show and join the fun! Please complete the Donkey and Mule Show registration form to enter.
You can sign up for the 5K Footrace here.
Fairgrounds and Accessibility
Only certified service animals, dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, are welcome on the fairgrounds. Pets are strictly prohibited from the fairgrounds, parking lots (including parked cars) and camping areas. If you are traveling long distance with your pet(s), please contact a pet kennel in the area. Here is a link to some nearby kennels.
If you have a disability, you get free admission daily for you and an attending person. We do not make anybody prove that they have a disability. Tickets must still be reserved (even free tickets).
We do not have carts or wheelchairs available for individual fairgoer use. Members of our volunteer safety team provide assistance to fairgoers who are in distress. Find out more about fairground accessibility.
Electric wheelchairs or similar mobility devices are allowed. You may not bring your own golf cart to the Fair. Find out more about fairground accessibility here.
Getting to the Fair and Accommodations
The Common Ground Country Fair takes place at the Common Ground Education Center located at 294 Crosby Brook Rd, Unity, ME.
By bike, train or car, there are many ways to get to the Common Ground Country Fair! Check out our Getting to the Fair page for more information.
Learn more about carpool options here.
Volunteers can camp on-site for one night for each four hour volunteer shift. You can camp the night before your four hour volunteer shift or the night after. To find out more about camping at the Fair as a volunteer, check out our volunteer page!
Fairgoers who are not volunteering are not allowed to camp on the fairgrounds. Please refer to our camping and accommodations page to find nearby accommodations and camping options.
Common Ground Country Fair T-Shirts and Merchandise
You can buy this year’s Fair poster here. All other merchandise with this year’s Fair design will first become available on the first day of the Common Ground Country Fair at the Country Store Tent.
All 2023 merchandise can be purchased at the Country Store Tent at the Common Ground Country Fair. 2023 Fair posters are available on our online store now. Any merchandise remaining after the 2023 Fair will be available to buy at our online store in mid to late October.
Select designs of past Common Ground Country Fair merchandise can be purchased online or at the Maine Organic Marketplace in Freeport, Maine.
We will occasionally reprint reprint past Fair designs. Reprints will be announced on MOFGA’s social media and via our email list.
You can view our archive of past Fair designs here.
