The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
RIDES AND FOOD TO DRAW CROWDS
Attendance is expected to exceed 200,000 at Cuyahoga County Fair
The 123rd annual Cuyahoga County Fair runs Aug. 6 to 11 at the fairgrounds in Middleburg Heights.
On Aug. 5, the sundrenched midway was alive with activity as vendors, ride operators and exhibitors readied for the start of the fair’s six-day run.
The husband-wife team of Kurt and Amy Otterbacher of Seville were setting up their Firehouse Water Race amusement game.
Amy Otterbacher said they operate the game at 20 to 25 fairs and festivals across northern Ohio from Memorial Day into the fall.
“We have three kids in school, so once school starts, I come off the road,” she said.
Krista Ward and her husband, Pat, formerly of South Dakota, crisscross the country in their motor home to set up The Sock Mafia stand at fairs and festivals. This is their first experience at the Cuyahoga County Fair.
“It’s a lot of work and travel, but we love the lifestyle,” Krista Ward said, adding that she and her husband share their journeys with their rescue dog, Suzie.
"It’s a lot of work and travel, but we love the lifestyle." — Krista Ward, at the Sock Mafia stand
Christina Hauff of Berea and her mom, Jenny Hauff, were in the 4-F Barn to show Christina’s quarter horse, Jackson.
Jackson is a 21-year-old bay gelding adopted by the Hauff family five years ago after he was saved from the slaughterhouse by a rescue group.
At 16 hands high (about 64 inches) and weighing 1,250 pounds, Jackson has an inquisitive, playful and gentle manner that is magnetic to children.
“This is our third year at the fair with Jackson. He loves the attention,” Christina Hauff said.
This edition of the fair will offer the carnival rides, food and beverage stands, games of chance and other entertainment elements that appeal to fairgoers from cities and suburbs in Northeast Ohio.
Along that same midway are exhibitions featuring animals, farm equipment, vegetables and crafts that
Over 2,000 animals will be displayed.
make this a true county fair and set it apart from the church and community festivals that also are staples on the area’s summer and fall calendars.
The animal exhibitions are perennial favorites. Over 2,000 animals will be displayed. They range from cattle and horses to chickens, ducks, geese, guinea pigs, pigs and rabbits.
Special events on the fair schedule include harness racing (Aug. 6, 4 p.m.), a concert performance by country music recording artist Ashley McBryde (Aug. 10, $37.50 general admission) and the Demolition Derby (Aug. 11, 3 p.m., $8; 7 p.m., $10).
Fireworks displays at dusk are scheduled for Aug. 7, 8 and 9.
As long as the weather cooperates, the Cuyahoga County Fair Board expects to match or exceed last year’s attendance of 210,000.