ULSTER FAIR READY TO OPEN
The 130th edition of the Ulster County Fair, this time with Wi-Fi, opens on Tuesday
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. » The Ulster County Fair will open its 130th edition on Aug. 1 for a six-day run that will bring the event, firmly rooted in the agrarian past, into the Digital Age by adding free Wi-Fi on the fairgrounds.
Gates at the Libertyville Road fairgrounds will open 4 p.m. on Tuesday and 10 a.m. on each of the following five days.
“We just added Wi-Fi to the fairgrounds so people can keep (their devices) active,” fair General Manager Gary Newkirk said. “It’s just a way of life anymore and it’s certainly a benefit to the fair because the kids will be here with their friend. So they’ll be able to tweet to their friends or message them.”
On the traditional end of Ulster County Fair events, there will broadened events schedules for some of the more popular competitions.
“We always have a draft horse pull, but this year we’re adding a mini-horse pull,” Newkirk said. “There seems to be a lot of in-
terest in seeing the smaller horses pull.”
The fair has added farm-based entertainment for children with Moogician and the Agri-Puppets scheduled for daily performances.
“Moogician is a magic and ‘cowmedy’ show that’s powered by milk,” Newkirk said. “He does all kind of things milk related. He sings, he dances, he does all kinds of magic tricks, it’s a variety show kind of thing. He brings audience members up on the stage to help out.”
Newkirk said the key to producing a successful fair each year is building happy memories for young visitors, which in turn gives the often exhausted parents a sense of connection with the kids.
Among educational exhibits added to the fair will be demonstrations of
how American industry operated on a small scale in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“The old factories used to run (with) one power plant and would run a number of multiple pulleys off of a shaft, which would run the whole factory off of belts,” Newkirk said. “They have an old setup that they’re putting in and plan to demonstrate how the factories used to run.”
Headline acts during the fair will be 90 Proof at 7 p.m. Tuesday; Oak Ridge Boys at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Restless Heart at 8 p.m. Thursday; Martin Family Circus 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday; Savannah Jack at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; and B.J. Thomas at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Parking will be free and admission will be $15 per person, with Tuesday being carload day at $40 total for up to eight people. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be free for senior citizens.