UNITY -- When Dana and Robert Hernandez and their 8-month-old daughter moved from California to Waterville, they didn't know central Maine and were searching for things to do.

Then they heard about the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity, and expected to find a typical fair they were accustomed to: rides, fried food and attractions.

They were pleasantly surprised when they arrived on a Sunday.

"It was amazing, completely different from anything we had experienced before, coming from big-city life," Dana Hernandez said.

This year, the Common Ground Country Fair will markiits 32nd year in Maine. The fair, held off Route 139 between Unity and Thorndike, is presented by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

Jim Ahearne, the fair's director this year, can recall first coming to the fair in 1989.

"It's a quilt of events with so many things going on," Ahearne said. "There are close to 500 different workshops and demonstrations."

At its heart, the fair aims to "celebrate rural living," and so agriculture is the centerpiece of the festivities. MOFGA, meanwhile, aims to promote and support organic farming and gardening.

"It celebrates a lot of the traditional art forms that support sustainable living, the old crafts and it's alternative in a lot of radical concepts these days. It's a celebration of all that coming together," Ahearne said.

Last year, the Common Ground fair attracted its largest attendance to date: 62,000.

A lot goes into planning the fair. A core volunteer team works year-round on planning preparations, while hundreds of volunteers help out before, during and after the fair. During fair hours, there are 2,000, four-hour shifts to be filled for various jobs, Ahearne said.

There will be 66 vendors this year selling food and drink, plus the traditional farmers' market and Maine marketplace with local products.

There are several demonstrations as well, such as one on low-impact forestry, which will illustrate how to work on a wood lot and harvest timber, Ahearne said.

Don't forget the music, either: A mixture of folk, funk, Irish ballads, blues, punk, Celtic and more will be featured throughout each day at the Spotlight Stage. More entertainment and contests will be held at the Amphitheater.

Three keynote speakers will be featured each day at 11 a.m. at the Common:

* Sept. 19: John Bunker will share his thoughts on farming, gardening, the high price of food and more.

* Sept. 20: Jeffrey Smith will share his insight as an international spokesman on the health dangers of genetically-modified crops.

* Sept. 21: Gary Paul Nabhan, a writer, ethnobotanist and renowned conservation scientist, will talk about getting back in touch with local foods.

The Hernandez family was taken by the many booths with Maine goods, demonstrations, animals and more. India especially enjoyed seeing rabbits and cows and playing in hay, Dana Hernandez said.

"I bought some yarn they were spinning there for my mom, she's a knitter, and we tried a lot of the organic foods," Dana Hernandez said. "And for my daughter, making her baby food, (the fair) gave me more ideas. I immediately started making my own applesauce; it had never occurred to me to make my own by just cutting up apples, putting water in a bowl, boiling it until it's soft and running it through a processor. I still make it today for her."

Beyond the attractions and exhibits, Ahearne echoes a sentiment felt by the Hernandez family -- that the event is also largely about being with neighbors.

"It's always been a homecoming and a celebration. You come here and say, 'Yeah, these are my people. This is great,'" Ahearne said. "It's a great opportunity to make connections that intertwine year-round through life here in Maine."

Scott Monroe -- 487-3288, 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com