22
Week of July 16 – July 22, 2021
WELCOME BACK TO THE
Saratoga County Fair! by Megin Potter
for Saratoga TODAY Photos provided.
The Saratoga County Fair, is almost here! As the first in the area this year, the Saratoga County Fair is erring on the side of caution, and setting an example for the fairs to follow. They’ve sheared off a couple of days and have gotten back to their roots - educating the public about agricultural activities in a fun way - with animals, tractor and truck pulls, carnival rides, and fair food. “We have a full schedule and safety will always be first and foremost for us. We will follow the CDC guidelines that are current for that day, open up as much as possible, and go full speed ahead,” said Tammy Ballestero, President of the Saratoga County Agricultural Society. TOGETHER AGAIN Ballestero is most excited to once again see her neighbors in person. “There’s just nothing like hosting live events and the companionship you get once a year when folks get together up on the hill,” she said. In 2020, the pandemic halted social gatherings and caused the way people experienced the fair to be quite different. “In spite of the fact that we were not able to have a traditional fair last year, we were able to have a live event with a ribbon cutting, and to provide a lot of activities for people to participate in virtually. So, in that sense, it was a success,” said Ballestero.
WHAT’S CHANGED In 2021, reopening can’t mean going completely “back to normal” for the event, which typically draws in 100,000 people. In addition to the shortened week, there are no concerts and no alcohol being served onsite. The demolition derby won’t be happening. Also, the fair is typically staffed heavily by volunteers, and there weren’t as many willing to step forward this year. WELCOME BACK CARNIVAL RIDES This year, the Saratoga County Fair is happy to welcome back Amusements of America for carnival rides and games. “People will still be pleasantly surprised. There’ll be a good mix of thrill and kiddie rides,” said Ballestero. Conscious of not excluding anyone, particularly the youth, they will again be having Think Differently Day, an hour-long event beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, without the bright lights and loud sounds that can be disturbing for sensitive patrons. WELCOME BACK FAIR FOOD Familiar vendors and a dozen concession stands will also be back this year, including the popular Brickyard Tavern and Grill, who will be serving breakfast, sausage, and steak sandwiches. The annual 4H Chicken Barbecue will be on Thursday, July 22, 4-7 p.m., but you must buy tickets in advance.
Each dinner includes a half chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll, slice of Smith's apple pie, and a bottle of water for $14/meal. To order, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension by calling 518-885-8995, or go online to ccesaratoga.org Also returning this year, will be the lemonade stand run by 10-year-old Brendan Mulvaney. He started setting up the stand when he was five and donates the proceeds. “It's an example of how youth in our community can make a difference and we at the Fair encourage everyone to support him,” said Ballestero. BACK TO ITS ROOTS Showcasing Saratoga County agriculture is back to being at the heart of the fair. “Everyone has a different version of what their favorite thing at the fair is, but we’ve gotten back to our mission- a grassroots effort to stress the importance of agriculture,” said Ballestero. “In Saratoga County, we are heavy into agriculture,” she continued. “We have horses, yes, of course, but we have a number of dairy farms, sheep, goats. Saratoga has one of the strongest Cornell Cooperative Extensions and 4H programs around. The fair is, hands down, the best place to showcase that.” It’s not just animals, either. There’s chemistry projects, robotics, and machinery used by farmers to produce food on display.
