With September around the corner and summer winding down, the Trumansburg Fair is ready to close out the season with entertaining fun for the whole family.

The event officially opens Wednesday, Aug. 23 at noon and runs through Sunday, Aug. 27. 

Gerald Reynolds, president of the Fair Association, said that the event will feature a dazzling high-wire act with Lyric Wallenda of the Wallenda family and Simon Arestov performing daily. There will also be a petting zoo, horse races, a demolition derby and more. Reynolds has been president for the past decade or so after serving on the board for 62 years. He became involved in the event because he was drawn to the agricultural aspect. 

“I was a farmer, and the theme for the fair is to promote agriculture and promote education and also entertain people,” said Reynolds. “So, those are the three main things for the fair, and those are the things I enjoy doing. I enjoy seeing people come and having fun at the fair.”

Reynolds believes the fair is a valuable asset to the community, one that locals are happy to support. 

“We get good attendance, and we have a lot of sponsors, from local businesses to individuals,” he said. “So, I think the community really likes the fair.”

Wrist bands, which can be purchased in advance for $25.00, provide access to all of the rides, with the exception of the Rockin’ Cars and bungee jump. 

Aug. 23 is Children’s Day, with a demolition derby at 8 p.m. 

Aug. 24 has free admission for senior citizens, veterans and military members, and features a youth horse show, cattle show, motorcycle rodeo and rodeo. 

Aug. 25 is Children’s Day, with monster truck rides, a children’s pedal tractor pull, championship Figure-8 race and midnight madness.

Aug. 26 offers a horse show, firemen’s parade, kids 12v Power Wheels demo, demo derby, monster truck show, pickup derby, minivan demo and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. 

Aug. 27​ features a horse show, cornhole tournament and demolition derby. 

The fair will be held at the fairgrounds at 2150 State Rt. 96 in Trumansburg. Free parking is available on the grounds.

For more information regarding the Trumansburg Fair, including a full rundown of the events and to purchase wristbands, visit trumansburgfair.weebly.com.

Trumansburg Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or courtney.rehfeldt@gmail.com. 

In brief:

Trumansburg Education Foundation dinner & art auction

The Trumansburg Education Foundation will host a dinner at the Inn at Taughannock Falls on Aug. 24 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Vegan and gluten-free options are available. Following dinner, the annual art auction will feature work presented by student artists from Trumansburg Middle School and Trumansburg High School.

Seating is limited and will be first come, first served. Tickets are $100 and include dinner, Forge Cellars wine and a donation to support the foundation. Tickets can be purchased by messaging the foundation by visiting facebook.com/TburgEducationFoundation. When purchasing tickets, indicate that your payment will go to the art auction dinner.

Gems of the Finger Lakes: Grassroots Unplugged

Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts (TCFA) will host a two-day music event Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, from 12:30 to 10 p.m. each day. 

Festival proceeds will support TCFA’s capital campaign to restore the building. 

A one-day pass is $45, and a two-day weekend pass is $80. Children 12 and under are free. 

The event features over a dozen bands on both an outdoor stage and indoor stage, including Bob & Dee, Cosmo Curry & the Perry City Playboys, Jeb & Friends, Madd Daddy (Maddy and Ted Walsh), Motherwort, Notorious Stringbusters, Richie & Rosie, Road Man, Rose and The Bros, Sim Redmond Band, Small Kings, Thousands of One, Toivo and Tenzin with Emmett Scott.

Additional events include children’s activities, face painting, plein-air painting on the front lawn and a silent auction with reserve prices featuring gems from Mark Oros Gems.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting tburgconservatory.org.

Chamber Music at New Park

A music festival is planned for Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. at New Park, located at 1500 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca.

Enjoy world-class musicians from the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Sphinx Competition, National Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet of Canada, Canadian Opera Company, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Sarasota Opera Orchestra and more in a relaxed and natural venue. ​Enjoy local food, drinks and more.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $10 for children 12+. Children under 12 are free, and college students are $20 with a student ID. Group rates and discounts are available; email chambermusicatnewpark@gmail.com for more information.

Free parking is available on site. A limited number of handicapped parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis (notify staff upon arrival). 

Tickets are available by visiting chambermusicatnewpark.com and at the door.