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ROCHESTER –
The Rochester Fair got its first taste of bad weather this
week, but organizers expect this weekend to feature sunny skies and
record-breaking crowds.
The school bus demolition derby last weekend was so popular
that the organizers of the 137th installment of the Fair have
brought it back for this Saturday, September 22.
Mark Perry, general manager for the 11th year,
said he is pleased with the event’s success.
“It’s been excellent - good crowds, the people are happy.
Spending seems to be back a little. I’m very very pleased.”
Mother Nature had been kind until Wednesday, when rain and
winds stirred up a bit of trouble, but it’s to be expected.
“When you’re a ten-day event, you can’t expect to get
perfect weather all ten days,” Perry said. “Especially in this part of the
country. Onto the fair, a little rain must fall.” Perry and others who run the
popular fair expect a big finish this weekend.
“We try to showcase some of the agricultural activities kids
are doing. Too often, you only hear about the bad kids.”
Perry touted the $75,000 in prizes and awards the Fair
offers to all types of participants.
There’s a wide range of awards. The giant pumpkin contest
offers $750 for first place, while crafts and quilts may win a $10 prize. With
thousands of different line items, it adds up to a lot of money, said Perry,
crediting the Fair’s success to its longevity..
“It’s been here a while, and there’s a lot of traditional
fair kind of entertainment,” he said.
The school bus demolition derby was new this year.
“It was such a runaway hit, we decided to do another one
this Saturday night,” Perry said.
Folks can enjoy what seems like an endless array of
amusements, including horse pulling, a Paul Bunyon lumberjack show, pig racing,
music, carnival rides, food, and games. For more information, visit
rochesterfair.com.
