NORWICH – For 170 years, the Chenango County Fair has been a showcase of the area’s agricultural roots, presented in a way that attracts the young and the young at heart.

The fun returns to Norwich today as another year of the fair gets underway. The six-day festival will be ushered in by the 4-H and Firefighters Parade at 7 p.m., tonight, on East Main Street.

As always, opening day admission is free.

Whether it’s because of the educational exhibits, family friendly entertainment, or the beloved fair games, rides and fried foods, the Chenango County Fair attracts nearly 40,000 visitors every year, making it the largest annual county attraction – a feat that takes a lot of planning and prepping, according to Chenango Ag Society President Mary Weidman.

“We’re really looking forward to a great year,” said Weidman, noting that relentless rain put dampened moods of many fairgoers last year. With some big events on the docket again this year, organizers say they’re hoping for an even greater turnout, she explained.

“We’re hoping for a nice summer season to kick all of our events off ... We have a lot of exciting things lined up, so we’re hoping people can come out and enjoy themselves,” added Weidman.

The Chenango County Fair has always aligned with the mission of New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs. Their mission: To foster agriculture, horticulture and domestic arts, and educate on Chenango’s number one industry: agriculture.

This year, organizers are also partnering with local FFA chapters to create a container garden space near the fair entrance. The aim is to promote the various agricultural entities participating in the fair while greeting fairgoers with a more attractive entrance and teaching all that’s involved in creating these gardens.

While old traditions continue, this year’s fair bears a noticeably new look. The fairgrounds have undergone some major renovations this year, giving fairgoers a safer, more enjoyable experience, Weidman explained.

“We are finishing our second year working with the Department of Defense and their Innovative Readiness Training Program. This year, (military personnel) have been working on the grandstand, updating lighting, and they put in some new black top ... We think those improvements will make it better for people who come.”

The County Fair benefited from the DOD IRT program last year too, having received some infrastructure upgrades and a new building for fair offices. Labor is performed by the DOD while cost of materials is footed by Chenango County. The partnership is a win-win that provides much needed upgrades to the fairgrounds while giving military personnel hands-on construction experience that’s useful in establishing temporary stations during times of emergency.

The recent collapse of the old exhibition hall also forces some changes in tradition this year. The building was damaged by heavy snow in the winter, which means it’s off limits during fair time.

“Instead, we’re going to have standard exhibits and departments move into the new exhibition hall,” Weidman said. And vendors that would traditionally be in the new exhibition hall? “They’ll be located in a tent outside the new exhibition hall,” she added.

Of course changes to the fairgrounds aren’t the only thing to look forward to. The 170th annual Chenango County Fair promises all the fair attractions, including several free entertainment events and attractions, midway rides and games, harness racing, a demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, and a rodeo.

“It’s always a great event that has something fun for everyone,” said Weidman. “The main thing is that we’re looking to provide some good entertainment ... Our goal is still to effectively promote agriculture, our number one industry in Chenango County.”

A complete list of events and times can be found online at chenangocountyfair.homestead.com. Information can also be found on the Chenango County Fair Facebook page.