Local Girl Goes Backstage to Meet 'Hot Chelle Rae'

A Danvers girl went backstage and got to meet one of the stars that performed this past weekend at the Topsfield Fair.

A Danvers girl among just a handful of fans that were able to go backstage with Hot Chelle Rae on Saturday evening before the band's performance at the Topsfield Fair. Emily Ciruolo got to meet the band - which sings hits such as "Tonight, Tonight" and gained prominence after a performance on Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve this year - before the band's show in the arena at the fair. The 11-day Topsfield Fair wrapped up on Monday. Were you there? Did you snap some photos? Please feel free to share them in our Viewfinder image gallery.

• Photos (1)

Patch Facts

5 Things To Know on Oct. 8: Apple Season Continues

A great way to start the day with a quick look at the events and happenings in town.

Welcome to “5 Things,” your daily resource for community events, happenings in town and other little tidbits of information. Here are five things you need to know on Monday, Oct. 8. 1. Cooler: It is shaping up to be sunny, but cool, on Monday. The forecast calls for clear skies with temperatures topping out in the 50s. 2. Final Day: The final day of the Topsfield Fair is on Monday. It is open the regular hours of 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 3. Apples: The apple-picking season got off to an earlier than usual start this year, kicking into gear in late August. But it is still going. Right here in Danvers, you can pick apples at Connors Farm. Plus, there are other options nearby in places such as Ipswich and Boxford. 4. Columbus Day: Monday is …

• Photos (1)

ADD YOUR OWN: Photos From the Topsfield Fair 2012

Fairgoers poured in to the Topsfield Fair as the sun came out on Friday. The fair runs through Monday, Oct. 8 (Columbus Day). Share your photos of the fun.

Columbus Day weekend marks the end of the Topsfield Fair in 2012. Share you photos with us from this year's fair -- maybe it's inside an animal barn, a BMX bike show or pig race or you're enjoying some fried dough. Maybe you snapped some shots of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Musical Ride or the dogs from Dock Dogs jumping into the water. To add your photos from this year's Topsfield Fair, simply click on the big white and green button that says "Upload photos and videos."

• Photos (21)

Sunny Afternoon Backs Up Fair Traffic Into Danvers

Some of the first sunny weather in a week has created a significant backup headed to the Topsfield Fair on Friday afternoon.

The first sunny day for the 2012 edition of the Topsfield Fair means the traffic backup on Route 1 is significant Friday afternoon. On Twitter, Mike Berry was reporting that it is more than an hour trip from the Ferncroft Rotary in Danvers to the fairgrounds on Route 1 in Topsfield. Another Twitter user, Brandi White, described the traffic as “horrible.” Google Maps reports the trip for the 2.5-mile drive from the rotary will take about 22 minutes in current traffic, as of 3:30 p.m. The normal travel time is about 5 minutes. Anyone headed to the area of Danvers closest to the Topsfield town line along Route 1, expect slight delays. If you are headed to the fair, expect slowgoing and check out what you need to know at the fair today. …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Today at the Topsfield Fair

What You Need to Know About the Topsfield Fair: Wednesday, Oct. 3

Here's a look at some of the special things you will find at the Topsfield Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 3. Check for this daily feature here on Danvers Patch through the fair's closing day on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8.

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. Another of the midweek evening parades will make its way through the fairgrounds on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Starting the day at 10:30 a.m. in the …

• Photos (1)

Today at the Topsfield Fair

What You Need to Know About the Topsfield Fair: Tuesday, Oct. 2

Here's a look at some of the special things you will find at the Topsfield Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Check for this daily feature here on Danvers Patch through the fair's closing day on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8.

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 contest will be announced at 9 p.m. in Coolidge Hall. The U.S. Marine Corps Band continues with its 2012 performances at the Topsfield Fair with …

• Photos (1)

Today at the Topsfield Fair

What You Need to Know About the Topsfield Fair: Monday, Oct. 1

Here's a look at some of the special things you will find at the Topsfield Fair on Monday, Oct. 1. Check for this daily feature here on Danvers Patch through the fair's closing day on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8.

Monday, Oct. 1 is the fourth 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 Senior Citizen Day. Admission for anyone 60-years-old and up is $8 on Monday. There's also a midway ride special on Monday, where you get unlimited rides for $20 on all rides except the bumper cars from 5-11 p.m. The winner of the Fleischmann's Yeast "Sensational Bread" contest will be announced at 9 p.m. in Coolidge Hall. The U.S. Marine Corps Band continues with its 2012 performances at the Topsfield Fair with concerts at 2 on the Trianon Stage and 7 p.m. in the grandstand. The Marine Corps band will be in the grandstand through Tuesday, and then …

• Photos (1)

Today at the Topsfield Fair

What You Need to Know About the Topsfield Fair: Sunday, Sept. 30

Here's a look at some of the special things you will find at the Topsfield Fair on Sunday, Sept. 30. Check for this daily feature here on Danvers Patch through the fair's closing day on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8.

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 performances in the grandstand. Shows are at 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 three performances. The band will be on the Trianon Stage at 7 p.m. In the arena, there will be horse-pulling - both free-fo-all and three horse hitch. Two other fair favorites - The Great American Duck Race and Robinson's Racing Pigs - run all day too. The duck race is on the Gange Road at 11 a.m. and 1 and 5 p.m. Robinson's Racing Pigs are opposite the duck …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)

Robert Gates

12:33 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012

The U.S. Marine Corps Band concert has been moved from the Trianon Stage inside to Coolidge Hall.   more ›