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.