UNION — The Union Fair opens Saturday, August 20, and runs through Saturday, August 27, offering eight days of fun and entertainment of a Maine Agricultural Fair. Gates open at 8 a.m. daily.

One of the most anticipated days is Tuesday, August 23, which is Senior Citizen and Veterans Appreciation Day. On this day, the senior (62 and older) entry fee is $5 from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. Veterans are admitted free all day with an ID. These special entry fees include everything except midway rides.

The Union Fair Veterans Appreciation program will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is offering a marketplace of opportunities for veterans of all ages. There will be a four-hour window for veterans and their families to interact with a wide variety of organizations that provide support, recreation, benefits information and job opportunities for veterans.

Joining this year at the fair will be:

United Farmer Veterans of Maine, Swanville

House in the Woods Military and Family Retreat, Lee

Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, Newry

Maine Vet Center Mobile Van, Lewiston

Wreaths Across America, Columbia Falls

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Belfast 

The veterans welcome program will be at noon, August 23,  and will contain a prayer, flag salute and music. Each organization listed above will be briefly introduced, and then those veterans (and guests) in our audience will be encouraged to meet and talk with the representatives from the groups.

The welcome program and organizations will be  in Sherman Park. Sherman Park is a shaded gathering spot located in the middle of the fairgrounds, and provides picnic tables and chairs for folks to gather and enjoy a brief rest while attending the fair.