Maine State Fair procession about 1900 at the Lewiston Fairgrounds. Several pairs of oxen appear. The oxen were important for farm work and transport of heavy loads. The exhibition building is in top left corner.

Agricultural fairs were held in Lewiston as early as 1837. The first fair to use the grounds next to the railroad tracks on upper Main Street was in 1881. Visitors jammed Lewiston from all over New England during the week of the fair.