Schaghticoke Fair to kick off 197th edition
SCHAGHTICOKE >> People will once again be able to close out their summer at the 197th annual Schaghticoke Fair, which opens Wednesday and continues through Labor Day.
The third oldest fair in New York state prides itself as a showcase for the best that Rensselaer County residents and agriculture have to offer. Building after building will be filled with vegetables, fruits, animals, antiques, baked goods and homemade crafts.
The theme of this year’s fair theme is “Made in the USA,” with fair manager Carly Reyna explaining the theme was picked for a couple different reasons.
“We arrived with Made in the USA for sure because there is a real patriotism here, a love of our country,” she said. “We proudly boast a beautiful Veteran’s Hall, and it is an election year.”
Once the committee picks the theme each year, local schoolchildren have the opportunity to draw original artwork that will be on display throughout the fair. This year, Allison Acton, a 10th-grader at Hoosic Valley Central School, submitted the winning artwork, which will also be printed on commemorative T-shirts.
The fair kicks off at noon Wednesday, with the fairgrounds opening at 10 a.m. on the remaining days and staying open each night until 10 p.m.
General admission tickets are $5 on opening day, $11 for the rest of the fair, with children ages 13 and younger getting in free and season tickets available for $40. Parking is also free.
Opening day is also Military Appreciation Day, with all veterans and active-duty military get in free with military identification, while Thursday is Senior Citizen Day, with people 62 and older getting in for $5.
Reyna said that she became full-time fair manager in March, she has heard criticism from fairgoers that the fair offers much the same entertainment each year, so organizers tried to change things up.
“We got a lot of messages via Facebook and email with people saying that it is a lot of the same stuff at the fair every year,” said Renya, “so we made a big investment this year into
entertainment. We will now have a different musical act every day in the park on the main stage.”
Performers this year will include Buddy Jewell, who will perform on Labor Day, and Straight out of Las Vegas, which will present a tribute to country music superstars Tim McGraw and Shania Twain on Sunday. The fair will offer the North Country Music Awards on Saturday, hosted by Kevin Richards of WKLI-FM (The Cat), along with a performance by the True Grit Outlaws, Mike and the Monsters will perform classic rock on Friday, the Oldies Show will perform on Senior Citizen Day and hypnotist Michael Blaine will be on hand throughout the week.
In addition, the fair will offer many other attractions, such as the Wild World of Animals Show, an aerial escape artist, the World of Wonder - Big Top Show, the Buffalo Barfield Music Show and the everpopular racing pigs.
Opening day is sponsored by the Rensselaer County Dairy Committee, while Senior Citizen Day is sponsored by Rensselaer County. The fair will also hold Health Awareness Day on Friday, sponsored by St. Peter’s Health Partners, and Fireworks Day on Saturday, sponsored by Quick Response Restoration.
Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino and other county officials will be on hand throughout the fair to provide information on programs and services available to county residents.
“The Schaghticoke Fair is an outstanding opportunity for fun for the entire family,” said Jimino, “and while visiting the fair, I urge residents and visitors to stop by our exhibits and find out a bit more about the programs and services we offer. From demonstrations by our Bureau of Public Safety or information about our public health programs, county officials will be on hand to discuss the roles and focus of the various agencies.”