Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the evening of a country fair, when everyone has been drinking and the men begin to make robust physical advances towards the women.

1838		W. Holloway Dict. of Provincialisms 48/1: Dragging-Time, The evening of the fair-day, when the young fellows pull the wenches about.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.