121st Afton Fair opens today
AFTON – The Afton Fair and Agricultural Exposition kicks off today for five fun-filled days of midway rides, funnel cake and more.
Now celebrating its 121st year, organizers say the event is one of the oldest and longest running of its kind.
“We’re one of the last little town fairs,” said Dennis Fletcher, president of the Afton Driving Park and Agricultural Association, the non-profit, volunteer-driven organization which organizes every aspect of the annual event.
This year, the much anticipated five-day event will feature everything from Midway rides, games and food vendors to live music, dairy and horse shows, harness racing, a fireman’s parade, tractor pulls, a rodeo, stock car races, demolition derbies and fireworks.
The Midway is always a big draw for Afton fair-goers, according to Fletcher, and this year he promises it will be bigger and better than ever, thanks to the return of Gillette Shows.
“We will have more rides and bigger rides,” he reported, plus a full contingent of amusement games. To make riding the rides more affordable, wristband specials will be available during designated times on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, allowing wearers unlimited access for the specified block of time.
There is also an impressive line-up both on the 88BC/Afton Sertoma Stage and at the Grandstand.
Opening night will feature Gary Jennings on the 88BC/Afton Sertoma Stage, as well as the annual Firemen’s Parade and Firematics display at the grandstand, followed by Fireworks, courtesy of NBT bank.
One of this year’s highlights will be the T Bar T Rodeo, which will take center stage at the grandstand on Thursday Night.
“This is new this year,” reported Fletcher, who said promotion of the rodeo had already created a buzz in the community and advance ticket sales were “going through the roof.”
The live rodeo show – billed as “adrenaline-rushing entertainment” by its co-sponsors, Millenia Entertainment – will feature bull riding, steer wrestling, bronco riding, barrel racing, roping and more. Among the competitors will be local favorites, brothers Jesse and Jamie Griswold of Bainbridge. Tickets are available in advance for $10, or $13 the day of the event in addition to fair admission.
On Friday evening, fans will no doubt be packing into the grandstand again for I-88 Speedway’s street stock, sportsman, modified and 4-cyl racing. Entry fee is $5 in addition to fair admission. Hot Laps begin at 6:30 p.m., with the real action getting underway at 7:15.
According to Fletcher, the track is under new management this year thanks to Jamie Page of Bainbridge, and Pit Stop Auto owner, Ronnie Ford.
“They’ve been on the racing side for years and are doing a fabulous job,” he said, explaining that they have routinely packed 700 people into the grandstands for each of their Friday night races.
The Demolition Derby, always a big draw according to organizer Rhonda Barriger, will have a new day and time this year. Traditionally held on Sunday, this year, the popular event will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The evening will wind to a close with a performance by Jason Wicks and Seven Bridges from 6 to 10 p.m. on the 88BC/Afton Sertoma Stage.
Wrapping up the fair’s live music will be Binghamton-area band Cobblestone Crossing, which will appear on stage at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
While the Midway, vendors and other entertainment always brings in the crowd, Fletcher and his colleagues on the board are committed to preserving the Afton Fair’s agricultural roots. Over the last few years, they have dedicated a great deal of time and effort to re-focusing the event on that heritage.
“We’re trying to work in more agriculture all the time,” Fletcher said. 4-H dairy and horse shows are important components, as are the pony and tractor pulls, Floral Hall exhibits and harness racing, which he said has been a mainstay of the town fair for each of it’s 121 years.
Added last year, the Children’s Activity Area provides an opportunity for the youngest fair-goers to learn where their food comes from.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback from parents,” the fair board president reported. This year, the display has been expanded to include a vegetable garden, where kids can see how food is grown and harvested, and an artificial cow will allow them to try their hand at milking. The adjacent petting zoo will also give them a chance to experience different types of animals.
They’ll also get to try their hands at fishing, thanks to First Bite Fishing. Barriger described the activity as “hands-on barbless fishing” featuring 5 species of fish. The exhibit will be one of close to 40 vendors on site during the event.
Admission to the Afton Fair will remain at $3 per person this year, Fletcher said, the amount to which it was reduced to last year in response to the nation’s economic woes. Children under 5 are free, and there is no additional charge for parking.
“The idea behind that is to get people on the grounds and to make it affordable for families,” he explained.
For more information on the 2010 Afton Fair, visit www.theaftonfair.com.
Now celebrating its 121st year, organizers say the event is one of the oldest and longest running of its kind.
“We’re one of the last little town fairs,” said Dennis Fletcher, president of the Afton Driving Park and Agricultural Association, the non-profit, volunteer-driven organization which organizes every aspect of the annual event.
This year, the much anticipated five-day event will feature everything from Midway rides, games and food vendors to live music, dairy and horse shows, harness racing, a fireman’s parade, tractor pulls, a rodeo, stock car races, demolition derbies and fireworks.
The Midway is always a big draw for Afton fair-goers, according to Fletcher, and this year he promises it will be bigger and better than ever, thanks to the return of Gillette Shows.
“We will have more rides and bigger rides,” he reported, plus a full contingent of amusement games. To make riding the rides more affordable, wristband specials will be available during designated times on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, allowing wearers unlimited access for the specified block of time.
There is also an impressive line-up both on the 88BC/Afton Sertoma Stage and at the Grandstand.
Opening night will feature Gary Jennings on the 88BC/Afton Sertoma Stage, as well as the annual Firemen’s Parade and Firematics display at the grandstand, followed by Fireworks, courtesy of NBT bank.
One of this year’s highlights will be the T Bar T Rodeo, which will take center stage at the grandstand on Thursday Night.
“This is new this year,” reported Fletcher, who said promotion of the rodeo had already created a buzz in the community and advance ticket sales were “going through the roof.”
The live rodeo show – billed as “adrenaline-rushing entertainment” by its co-sponsors, Millenia Entertainment – will feature bull riding, steer wrestling, bronco riding, barrel racing, roping and more. Among the competitors will be local favorites, brothers Jesse and Jamie Griswold of Bainbridge. Tickets are available in advance for $10, or $13 the day of the event in addition to fair admission.
On Friday evening, fans will no doubt be packing into the grandstand again for I-88 Speedway’s street stock, sportsman, modified and 4-cyl racing. Entry fee is $5 in addition to fair admission. Hot Laps begin at 6:30 p.m., with the real action getting underway at 7:15.
According to Fletcher, the track is under new management this year thanks to Jamie Page of Bainbridge, and Pit Stop Auto owner, Ronnie Ford.
“They’ve been on the racing side for years and are doing a fabulous job,” he said, explaining that they have routinely packed 700 people into the grandstands for each of their Friday night races.
The Demolition Derby, always a big draw according to organizer Rhonda Barriger, will have a new day and time this year. Traditionally held on Sunday, this year, the popular event will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The evening will wind to a close with a performance by Jason Wicks and Seven Bridges from 6 to 10 p.m. on the 88BC/Afton Sertoma Stage.
Wrapping up the fair’s live music will be Binghamton-area band Cobblestone Crossing, which will appear on stage at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
While the Midway, vendors and other entertainment always brings in the crowd, Fletcher and his colleagues on the board are committed to preserving the Afton Fair’s agricultural roots. Over the last few years, they have dedicated a great deal of time and effort to re-focusing the event on that heritage.
“We’re trying to work in more agriculture all the time,” Fletcher said. 4-H dairy and horse shows are important components, as are the pony and tractor pulls, Floral Hall exhibits and harness racing, which he said has been a mainstay of the town fair for each of it’s 121 years.
Added last year, the Children’s Activity Area provides an opportunity for the youngest fair-goers to learn where their food comes from.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback from parents,” the fair board president reported. This year, the display has been expanded to include a vegetable garden, where kids can see how food is grown and harvested, and an artificial cow will allow them to try their hand at milking. The adjacent petting zoo will also give them a chance to experience different types of animals.
They’ll also get to try their hands at fishing, thanks to First Bite Fishing. Barriger described the activity as “hands-on barbless fishing” featuring 5 species of fish. The exhibit will be one of close to 40 vendors on site during the event.
Admission to the Afton Fair will remain at $3 per person this year, Fletcher said, the amount to which it was reduced to last year in response to the nation’s economic woes. Children under 5 are free, and there is no additional charge for parking.
“The idea behind that is to get people on the grounds and to make it affordable for families,” he explained.
For more information on the 2010 Afton Fair, visit www.theaftonfair.com.
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