MORRIS – The event known locally as the “six best days of summer” will be kicking off in Morris July 29.
The Otsego County Fair will provide live entertainment, carnival rides, games, demonstrations, tractor pulls and a rodeo throughout the week.
Fair Manager Judy Harris said there will plenty of activity this year with new entertainers and events. Harris said she anticipated 10,000 for opening day and 6,000 daily for the remainer of fair week. “We are ready to get started,” she said.
On Monday evening, before opening day, a free, old-fashioned hymn sing will be held at 7 p.m. inside the Grange Hall. Area soloists, instrumentalists and church choirs are scheduled to perform.
The gates open Tuesday at 8 a.m. Admission to opening day is free, courtesy of Wilber National Bank. Opening day is also Senior Citizens’ Day. There will be activities in the Grange Hall. Agricultural activities include 4-H shows, the Blue Ribbon Cloggers and - at noon in the grandstand - there will be a New York state Sire Stakes Harness Race. (Prices for grandstand shows are not included in the general fair admission.)
The Fire Service and School Band Parade, sponsored by New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Co., will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday around the track, with a fireworks display following, sponsored by NBT Bank.
New this year, is a petting zoo and equine demonstrations. A new barn has also been constructed since fair time last year. “Friday we are having a traditional barn dance in our new building,” Harris said.
A variety of tractor pulls will take place Wednesday as well as the Otsego County Fair pageant beginning with registration for babies at 10:30 a.m. The teen pageant follows at 1 p.m.
From 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Gillette Shows will offer ‘pay one-price’ carnival rides. The mid-way opens daily at noon. The evening concludes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with Rick K and The Allnighters, a 50s and 60s band.
Singer/Songwriter Skip West will perform at 1 p.m. Thursday and the “Total Destruction Demolition Derby” will be at 7:30 p.m.
There are free activities at the fair each day including a science discovery center, a frog bog show, racing pigs and a sportsmen’s club exhibit.
Celebrating agriculture and local history are two aspects of the fair that Harris reminds attendees not to forget. There is an old country store, a one-room school house, conservation and wildlife exhibits, several 4-H activities, agricultural awareness exhibits, goat milking and fine art displays.
Admissions Wednesday to Sunday are $5 for adult (16 and over), $2.50 for youth (8-15) and free for children under age eight. Parking is $2. Season passes are $15 for adults and $8 for children over age eight.
For more information, call the fair office at 263-5289 or visit www.otsegocountyfair.org.