Afton Fair: The show must go on

AFTON – The Susquehanna River is less than a quarter mile from the Afton Fairgrounds and late June flooding left more than a small mark on its low-lying fields and buildings.
“At the horse barn I stood nearly at the water line,” President of the Afton Fair Jeanette Grover said. “Neck-high water.”
Organizers of the 117th annual event said the show must go on. Due to a fast clean-up after the flood, the fair kicked-off Wednesday with firemen’s parade, and gates will stay open until Saturday. The time between the natural disaster and the gates opening left some doubts.
Flooding brought four feet of water and all the mud and debris one could expect to the grounds only weeks ago. As levels receded with the lowering Susquehanna, the fairgrounds were left covered with mud. Fair organizers have spent their time since cleaning the high-water lines off buildings, washing everything that was covered in muck and determining what could not be saved.
“Jeanette is really the one who has been pushing us on,” Fair board member Steve Willes said. As for the board president, she spread credit around.
“We’ll make light of the situation, but it’s a heavy loss and it was tough. It’s been a lot of work and a lot of people have pitched in,” she said.
Since the flood, rains have washed the grass green again and the buildings have mostly been scrubbed of any evidence of the muck. The midway is up and running, the cotton candy is on sticks and the demolition cars have been numbered.
Thursday will be wristband day at the grounds. For $12, anyone can purchase a band that will enable them to ride unlimited rides from 1-5 p.m. The New York State Sire Stakes will take place from 1:30-5 p.m. and there will be a pie eating contest at 2 p.m. The first collision in the demolition derby is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The highlight of Friday will be the Junior American Idol contest. Fair organizers are still taking applications from children ages 12 to 18 for the singing contest. That contest, along with the Brookfield Garden Tractor Pullers competition, will kick-off at 5 p.m.
The final day of the fair will bring a selection of what country fairs are famous for. The day will start at 8 a.m. with a horse show and continue until 11 p.m., filled with a baby contest, pony pull, antique tractor display, medieval armor demonstration and the final round of the demolition derby.
Admission is free for the entire week. The fairgrounds are located just off Interstate 88, exit 7.

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