FAIR OPENING
Annual event returns with first- ever Dollar Day
SCHAGHTICOKE, N. Y. » Thousands flocked to the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds on Wednesday and paid just a dollar to attend Opening Day of the 198th annual Great Schaghticoke Fair.
In addition to $ 1 admission — which included all exhibits throughout the fairgrounds — these first fair- goers of the year took advantage of deals like $ 1 rides, games and food items on Wednesday.
This new promotion was an effort to boost attendance numbers on Day 1, which historically has been the slowest of the six- day annual fair.
The discount was also aimed to make the fair and its activities less expensive for attendees.
“We wanted tomake it affordable for everybody,” said fair manager Carly Reyna.
The first- ever Dollar Day at the Schaghticoke Fair seemed to go over well with families. The Merrills Family of Troy came out for OpeningDay, partly because of the deal. They are planning to come out again on Labor Day, the final day of the fair, for the demolition derby. Longtime returning fair- goer Karen Merrills likes seeing the animals at the Schaghticoke Fair, and her husband is fond of the fried food, she said as their boys, ages six and eight, were petting stingrays at a new exhibit.
“I never thought I would touch a stingray,” the younger one exclaimed, while his big brother talked about a deep fried candy bar he wanted to eat afterward.
Wednesday’s event schedule started strong, with oxen demonstrations, the Rising Stars Talent Competition, cheese sampling, a dairy demonstration with the Rensselaer County Dairy Princess, a Barnyard Sing- A- Long in the Family Fun Tent and the popular Pork Chop Review pig show — along with the agricultural and horticultural exhibits that will be available throughout the duration of the fair.
New attractions this year are the interactive stingray exhibit, where anyone can
feed and pet live stingrays, and the famous Bears of Bearadise Ranch show, featuring bears who have appeared in Hollywood movies — both of the attractions had large crowds on Wednesday afternoon — as well as traveling entertainment acts that roam around the fairgrounds.
One of the mainstays at the fair is always agriculture. In the poultry barn, 4- H member Ava Helou of East Greenbush was holding her chicken named Baby. The 11- year- old was excited about the start of the Schaghticoke Fair, where she planned to spend the next five days.
“I’m looking forward to everything,” she said. “A lot of people show up. It’s just a lot of fun.” Helou has tiny two- week- old chicks, some just- born guinea hens and goats on display at the fair this year, too.
As in fairs past, the demolition derbies, tractor pulls and live concerts are expected to be big draws at the 2017 Schaghticoke Fair.
This longtime fair is the third oldest in the state, and the longest- running in the area, with a nearly 200- year history. It is also the last summer fair in the Capital Region, and a final chance for locals to experience fair fun before fall.
Less than an hour after gates opened Wednesday, the fair was significantly busier than normal, Reyna said. All five lanes of the main entrance were being used, which would normally only happen on a
weekend.
“That ’ s what Saturday and Sunday look like. That’s not what Wednesday looks like, and certainly not before five o’clock,” she said while watching cars consistently coming through the front gates.
With a mostly sunny weather forecast predicted for the next few days and upcoming holiday weekend, Reyna is hopeful that with the new $ 1 day initiative the fair will hit 100,000 in attendance this year, welcoming lots of event- goers young and old to the 2017 Great Schaghticoke Fair.
The 198th annual Great Schaghticoke Fair will continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4. Fairgrounds are open from 10 a. m. to 10 p. m. daily.
Regular admission, including access to the grandstand and stage areas, is $ 11 for adults and free for children 13 and
younger. Veterans and active duty military members, with military identification, are free as well. On Thursday, senior citizens ages 62 and older can attend for a discounted rate of $ 5. A sixday season pass costs $ 40 per person. All- day wristbands for all Reithoffer Midway rides will be available each day.
On- site parking is free. The Schaghticoke Fairgrounds are located at 69 Stillwater Bridge Rd. in Schaghticoke, at the corner of Routes 67 and 40.
More information about the 198th annual Great Schaghticoke Fair, included a full event schedule, is available online at www.schaghticokefair.com.