Monday, Oct. 8 is the final day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. In the grandstand, the Flying Wallendas arrive for the last of three days of high-wire performances. They will perform for free at 2 and 7 p.m. The winners of the Parent and Child Cookie Celebration will be announced in Coolidge Hall at 2 p.m. In the arena on Monday afternoon and evening are two car competition - Figure 8 races at 3:30 p.m. and the Demolition Derby at 7 p.m. Before that in the arena will be a draft …

Sunday, Oct. 7 is the next to last day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. In the grandstand, the Flying Wallendas return for their second of three days of high-wire performances. They will perform for free at 2 and 7 p.m. The Mrs. Essex County Pageant takes place at 2 p.m. in Coolidge Hall. The First Congregational Church of Boxford will hold a service at 10 a.m. at the Trianon Stage. In the Essex County Farrmyard, the State Police K-9 team will be on display at noon and 2 p.m. and …

Saturday, Oct. 6 is the ninth day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. In the grandstand, the Flying Wallendas arrive for the first of three days of high-wire performances. On Saturday, they will perform for free at 2 and 7 p.m. And Saturday also features the two headlining ticketed shows of the fair this year. Disney's Bridgit Mendler performs in the arena at 11 a.m. and then it is Hot Chelle Rae at 6 p.m. Tickets for Mendler are $20 and Hot Chelle Rae are $25. Many other free shows …

Friday, Oct. 5 is the eighth day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. In the grandstand, county music signer John Michael Montgomery will perform for free at 7 p.m. The concert will also be simulcast at the Trianon Stage. There will be a tractor pull in the arena stating at 6 p.m. High Flying Frisbee Dogs performs in the arena at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. The winner of the Topsfield Fair Apple Pie Contest will be announced at 9 p.m. in Coolidge Hall. While Beulah the Elephant's …

Thursday, Oct. 4 is the seventh day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. In the grandstand, Austin Mahone will take the stage at 7 p.m. Mahone, 16, is a pop singer who took the Internet by storm with viral videos in the past year. The concert will also be simulcast at the Trianon Stage. The winner of the King Arthur Flour Favorite Scones Contest will be announced at 9 p.m. in Coolidge Hall. The final midweek evening parade of the 2012 fair will make its way through the fairgrounds on …

Wednesday, Oct. 3 is the sixth day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. It is the final day with a midway ride special on, where you get unlimited rides for $20 on all rides except the bumper cars from 5-11 p.m. And singing legend Frankie Avalon takes the stage in the grandstand at 7 p.m. Avalon, 72, has starred in dozens of TV shows and movies dating back to the 1950s and had 31 hit songs on the Billboard charts. If it rains, Avalon's performance will be moved inside to Coolidge Hall…

Tuesday, Oct. 2 is the fifth day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The  agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. Monday is Military Day. Admission is free for all active military personnel, along with their immediate family members. There's also a midway ride special on Tuesday, where you get unlimited rides for $20 on all rides except the bumper cars from 5-11 p.m. The first of several midweek evening parades through the fairgrounds happens on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The winner of the Pillsbury Pie Crust Pie Baking Championship …

Sunday, Sept. 30 is the third day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. Sunday is the final day of free Dock Dogs shows in the grandstand. Shows are at 10 and 11 a.m. and 12, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. The U.S. Marine Corps Band arrives on Sunday night for the first of many performances. The band will be on the Trianon Stage at 7 p.m. In the arena, there will be horse-pulling - both free-for-all and three horse hitch. Two other fair favorites - The Great American Duck Race and Robinson's …

Saturday, Sept. 29 is the second day of the 2012 Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. It is the first full day that the fair is open. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. Saturday gets started with the Grand Parade at 9 a.m. It starts at Topsfield Common and makes its way down Main Street and Maple Street into the Fairgrounds. Saturday is Girl Scout Day, honoring the 100th year of Girl Scouts. All girls in uniform will get in free along with one parent. Gov. Deval Patrick also plans to visit the fair on Saturday. He plans to be …

Friday, Sept. 28 is opening day at the Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the country. The fair opens at 1 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m. The  agricultural buildings close at 10 p.m. The New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off is planned for Friday afternoon and evening in the arena, running from about 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. A midway special runs all day, with $20 getting you unlimited midway rides (except the bumper cars) from 1-11 p.m. There will be a free Dock Dogs shows in the Grandstand at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 p.m. Burnham performs live on the Trianon Stage at 6 p.m. "Awesome Express" also performs …