Staff photos / Bob Coupland Newton Falls resident Wendy Heltzel explains a garden display set up by Trumbull Garden Forum showcased at one of the garden buildings Sunday on the final day of the Trumbull County Fair.

BAZETTA — With what was the only day for the Trumbull County Fair without any rain, fair officials are expecting their final day on Sunday will be the one with the most attendees.

Throughout the day, parking attendants helped direct motorists to available spots, including a large field across from the fairgrounds off Hoagland Blackstub Road after the spaces within the fairgrounds were filled.

Long lines of people waiting to get into the fairgrounds could also be seen throughout the day.

While the fair did have flooding and muddy areas from Saturday’s heavy rain, Sunday brought clear skies and not a drop of moisture.

Michele Smith, a fair board member who spent most of her time driving a cart throughout the fair, said with the exception of the weather, the 175th year went well.

“Sunday was so much better. The parking lots were still a little messy but not as bad as Saturday. I would bet Sunday will be our best attendance day. Even with the rain on some days, people still came to the fair. Today is sunshine and we have had a big crowd,” Smith said.

Smith said two other big draws on Sunday are the demolition derby at the grandstand and the fireworks display.

“When we are done counting attendance, I know Sunday will be the best day,” she said.

Smith said she oversees the culinary arts, domestic, garden, photography and fine arts competitions that bring people inside to see the talents of local adults and children.

Inside several buildings were displays of flowers, quilts, jams and jellies, and crafts.

Beth Baker of Bloomfield, who oversaw the culinary and domestic art entries, said this year they had many quilt, afghan and needlecraft entries as well different jams, jellies, cheesecakes and other spreads. There were also scrapbooks and woodworking exhibits.

“We had entries from adults and children. There were many culinary and canned good entries,” Baker said, noting entries were a little less than past years.

“You get to see things that you didn’t think someone could have made. There is one quilt which has over 4,000 pieces in it. I made a giraffe that took me over three hours to put the yarn in. I did that piece by piece,” said Bobijo Speerstra of Leavittsburg, who submitted dolls with outfits she made.

Baker said they have had guests from Pennsylvania and Missouri.

“We have many people ask how they can enter next year,” she said, noting there were more than 28 categories for entries.

“I get a lot of people asking if anything is for sale especially the canned goods,” Speerstra said.

“I just like it when people come in and comment about what they like,” said Maxine McGaughy of Warren who submitted entries.

In a nearby building were displays of flowers, plants, fairy gardens and other plants for the garden forum show.

Wendy Heltzel of Newton Falls said the Trumbull Garden Forum includes gardening clubs from Cortland, Lordstown, Leavittsburg and Warren Township.

In addition to garden club members, the public also was able to submit entries, said Judy Leeworthy of Newton Falls.

“Each club had their own section to show items and we had a junior section for kids who made birdhouses and bird cages. The judges were impressed with what the children did,” she said.

Heltzel said there were many fairy garden displays submitted, as well as a variety of flowers and a large cactus.

Driving to the fair from Concord Township in northern Ohio, east of Cleveland, were Kaitlin McFadden and Halle Graham.

“My mom has been working at the fair this week and we told her we would drive down to the fair Sunday,” McFadden said as they looked over the tables of flowers and plants.

The garden forum with all the local garden groups gets together on the first Tuesday of the month at the Johnston Community Center in Warren Township.