Tompkins Weekly

Trumansburg Fair returns for 167th year



By Rob Montana
Tompkins Weekly

 

The Trumansburg Fair is back for another week packed full of something for everyone.

The fair, entering its 167th year, kicks off Tuesday, August 22, and runs through Sunday, August 27, at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds. The official opening of the fair will take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, though the gates will be open before then, starting at noon. The rest of the week gates will open at varying times: Wednesday (10 a.m.), Thursday (9 a.m.), Friday (noon), Saturday (10 a.m.) and Sunday (9:30 a.m.).

One of the big highlights of the week, according to Jerry Reynolds, Trumansburg Fair president, is the demolition derby.
“It’s always a big draw,” he said.

The demolition derby preliminary rounds will take place at 8 p.m. Tuesday (cars) and 7 p.m. Saturday (pickup and minivan heats), with the finals taking place at 5 p.m. Sunday.
“Friday is the Figure 8 race, which is like a demolition derby, but it’s a race,” said Reynolds. “The cars are going around in a figure 8, but you don’t always make it around because someone’s coming the other way. There’s a little strategy to doing that race.”

Continuing along the motor theme, there will be a truck and tractor pull starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, with a kids 12-volt power wheels demo and monster truck show scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday.
“Saturday night is the big night,” said Reynolds. “We have the Firemen’s Parade at 4 p.m., at 7 we have the monster truck show, with the pickup demolition derby and minivan demolition derby, and fireworks after all that.”
Reynolds also highlighted harness racing at noon Tuesday: “It’s like Tioga Downs; that’s something that’s fun to watch.”

In addition to the events taking place at the Grandstand, there are lots of other things for fair-goers to do during the week. There is a midway, wood carving and agriculture awareness activities and judging of exhibits.
“There are all kinds of rides, about 25 rides. There are kiddie rides and big rides for the big kids,” said Reynolds. “There will be all the food stands, with hot dogs, fried dough, cotton candy and all that kind of stuff.
“There’s also a petting zoo and a show that takes place every day – the Wild World of Animals – with tigers, alligators, all those kind of things,” he added. “It’s a free show, and the petting zoo is free.”

Parking is available at the Fairgrounds free of charge, while admission is $5 per person; children 12 years old and younger are admitted free, senior citizens are admitted free of charge on Tuesday and Thursday, and military and veterans are admitted free on Thursday. Admission is discounted to $2 per person from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

There are additional costs for Grandstand events: Children under 2 are admitted free of charge; the cost for everyone else is $5 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, $7 on Saturday after the parade and Sunday, and there is no charge for the Grandstand on Wednesday.

For more information about the Trumansburg Fair, find fair books throughout the community or visit its Facebook page at Facebook.com/TrumansburgFair.

 

 

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