The Otsego County Fair is returning this year with new vendors, its first ever designated family day and more.
The fair, offering rides, local agriculture and entertainment for all ages, returned for another six-day stretch Tuesday, July 30 and is slated to end Saturday, Aug. 4.
Fair manager Lisa Jackson said Friday, July 26 that preparation for the fair began as soon as the previous one ended.
“We’re here all year long for six days,” she said.
She said that the fair organizers have been working every day to organize new features and make sure everything is ready in time for opening day.
Jackson said one of the newer features is the dairy bar, which offers free milk, chocolate milk, string cheese and yogurt daily.
There’s also a new Christmas store, which Jackson says will become a permanent fixture.
“It’s just filled with Christmas decor, ornaments, old-fashioned Christmas candy, anything you can think of,” she said.
Jackson said that another new feature this year is the antique village, which is an area of the fair with multiple buildings designated for antique shopping.
She said that a mechanical bull, axe throwing and Scott’s Future of Magic Show will be free attractions happening throughout the duration of the fair.
Jackson said that this year, the fan favorite old-fashioned root beer float truck, run by Grant and Gail Simmons, won’t be at the fair. She said they plan to return next year, and there will still be root beer floats to enjoy.
Jackson said that this is a big year for new and returning vendors.
One of the fairground’s buildings was deemed unsafe and was torn down, making room for an 6,400-square-foot tent made for vendors like Great Northern Collectibles, Devil’s Dust, Seven Stones, Milk Creek Maple, Caribou Knives and more.
“I’ve been the manager for about eight years, and we probably have double the vendors since then,” Jackson said.
The grandstand also will be filled with vendors this year, and all the fairgoers’ favorite events are returning — demolition derby, tractor pulls, the fire service and school band parade, a fireworks show and harness racing.
Performances by Buffalo Barfield, Krystal Lee, Jason Wicks and the Sundown Band are scheduled throughout the week at the entertainment tent.
Jackson said that opening day is mostly focused on agriculture, but the organizers wanted to offer a show for fairgoers as well. The entire show ring has been upgraded for exhibitors with new fencing, new boards and it is double the size.
This year, the fair is designating Saturday as family day for the first time. Jackson said that previously, it was always just kid’s day, but now, there are giveaways for adults and special discounts by selected food vendors between 5 and 7 p.m.
There is scheduled be a giveaway for kids 16 and under. She said that in previous years, they have given away TVs, Nintendo Switch game consoles and Power Wheels toy vehicles.
Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the giveaway starts at 3 p.m.
Jackson said this year’s family day also will have a giveaway for adults starting at 7 p.m. To enter, you must purchase a ticket for Saturday’s grandstand show and be in attendance. Prizes will include cash, TVs, tablets, sound bars, security systems and more.
Fair rides are scheduled to be open with the purchase of a $25 wristband from 2 p.m. until closing on Wednesday through Sunday.
“We’re excited, it’s a very different layout this year,” she said. “There’s just a lot of stuff for people to do.”
For more information on the schedule and events, go to www.otsegocountyfair.org.