Jul 14, 2012
Summer has a host of highlights, but among the best of those highlights are the county fairs. Genesee County’s fair opens Tuesday and runs through Saturday (July 17-21), immediately followed by the Orleans County 4-H Fair July 23-28. A few weeks later, Wyoming County’s fairgrounds come alive, from Aug. 11 to 18.
Residents of these three counties owe it to themselves to visit one or two or all three of these fairs. All feature the best of what these counties’ young people are doing in 4-H and other organizations, plus offering a wide variety of exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment and competitions. Then there are the midway rides. Oh, and the food ... yes, the cotton candy and ice cream and hot dogs and ice cream and chicken barbecues and ice cream and ... well, you get the idea.
Admission to the Genesee County Fair, on East Main Road (Route 5), Batavia, is $5 a carload from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On Saturday the fair stays open until midnight. A few examples of what this fair offers: “Genesee’s Got Talent” Talent Show and square dance demonstration beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the exhibition building; Ghost Riders playing 8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday in the festival tent; The Trolls performing 8 p.m. July 19, Savage Cabbage Band on stage at 9 p.m. July 21; the 4-H dog show for agility and obedience at 8 a.m. Tuesday; the 4-H dressage horse show at 2 p.m. Thursday; and the chance to milk a dairy goat from 7 to 9 p.m. July 20.
The Orleans County 4-H Fair is offering $2 per carload admission opening day, July 23; the rest of the week, admission is $5 per carload. The greased pole climbing contest, which has its finals at 10 p.m. July 28, always brings out the best and the funniest in people. Some other fun features: Hot Dog Pig Racing, magic shows, and Chainsaw Chix expert chainsaw carving throughout the week. The pie-eating contest from 6 to 8 p.m. July 27 at the Curtis Pavilion promises to be fun and tasty. Look for the $1,000 karaoke challenge championship at 8 p.m. July 26 and fireworks at 10 p.m. July 27.
Wyoming County Fair has “One Great County, One Great Fair” as its motto, and it has delivered on that promise for generations. The fair is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 11-18. Parking is $5 a day or $22 for an eight-day pass (save $2 by purchasing an eight-day pass before the fair). Wyoming’s fair has earned a reputation as an old-fashioned fair, and that is borne out, but it does not ignore the modern, either. Yes, you can find demonstrations of antique farm equipment from 2 to 8 p.m. daily, and there’s a car show in the creekside area from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 11. But on Aug. 12, there’s also a meat animal ultrasound scanning.
These activities listed are only a bare sample of what’s offered at each of these three fairs. Watch for ads and stories about the fairs in this newspaper. Or check online at www.gcfair.com, www.orleans4-hfair. com, and www.wyomingcountyfair.org. Then mark the dates on your calendar. Make time to go. Summer isn’t the same without the fairs.
