Everyone has a favorite thing at the fair, whether it is stomach-churning carnival rides to the bounty of fried food, but at one local fairground, you could also take a step back in history.
The Altamont Fair is opening its gates and welcoming patrons for its 120th year on Tuesday, Aug. 13, featuring many of the popular attractions people look forward to every year, with some new ones mixed into the three-county celebration as well. Once again, tickets are all-inclusive at $15 from Tuesday to Thursday, and an additional two dollars on the weekend. You’ll still want to bring some cash for the fair’s classic fare. The grounds open at 10 a.m. daily, with exhibits following at 11 a.m. and the midway at noon.
Pat Canaday, an Altamont Fair board member, said the fair strives to be family-friendly and offer something everyone will enjoy. She said sticking to the fair’s roots is also important.
“Our goal is to preserve a lot of what people remember about the county fair when it is was a simpler time and this was the biggest community gathering of the year.”
The nonprofit, Albany, Schenectady, Greene County Agricultural and Historical Societies, Inc., hosts the fair annually, with the event largely supported through admissions, volunteer efforts and sponsors.
New to the fair is the “Tim Dyson FMX Show”, which features freestyle motocross stunts, with performances Tuesday through Thursday. Another new attraction is the Wildlife Sports and Educational Museum, featuring exhibits showcasing the “centuries-old sporting traditions of hunting, fishing and all sports afield memorabilia.”
There will be plenty of rides for the more daring fairgoers. Reithoffer Shows, dubbed the largest traveling midway in the word, is again hosting unlimited rides. The famous “Sky Flyer” will also be returning to lift people 120 feet into the air before swinging them sideways.
There is a calmer side to the fair if you need a rest from zooming through the air or chowing down a bloomin’ onion.
“Our hope is people will certainly enjoy the rides if they wish to, but our hope is people will go through the barns,” Canaday said. “It just gives you a chance to experience something else you wouldn’t see in your backyard.”
There are several museums at the fair, including the Antique Farm Machinery, Farm House, Carriage, School House, 1890’s Village, Circus, and Auto: Past and Present. This year the Auto Museum is hosting Satan Cycles, a group that will build a motorcycle from start to finish during the fair.
“A lot of what we do is related to both history and agriculture,” Canaday said. “We have a huge museum component here at the fairgrounds, and a lot of people have dedicated their volunteers hours to keep it going and share them.”
Providing space for local 4-H exhibits and competitions is an important aspect to the fair. The event provides some people with their first look at farm animals.
“Part of what we do is to help people understand other animals,” Canaday said.
There will be some exotic animals displayed, including a Giraffe Menagerie petting zoo and the “Two by Two Zoo” that lets people get up close to animals. The Utopia Percherons will be exhibiting their six-horse hitch of prize winning black geldings.
“If we don’t do it, people won’t see it,” Canaday said. “It is a real underlying drive for us to have people understand what they are seeing … and at least they are exposed to it.”
The Disc-Connected K9’s World Championship Frisbee dogs will be jumping and the porky Hollywood racing pigs are returning by popular demand.
Plenty of contests that anyone can enter will be held, including photography, painting, drawing, floral arrangements, and fruits and vegetables. Some rather delicious competitions include Hershey’s Anything Chocolate Challenge and Local Orchards Baked Goods contests. The Home Front Café’s Father Larche’s egg-flipping contest will allow people to win a free breakfast at the patriotic-themed Altamont restaurant.
The annual Miss Altamont Fair pageant will also crown winners in various age groups for girls. Pageant contests will be judged on “poise and public speaking.” Winners will receive a crown and be responsible to positively represent the fair throughout the year.
Tying the fair in with the community is what has kept it going strong over several years.
“We just draw on more and more on the community and try to involve more and more of the community to keep people in touch with each other on some of the earlier lives,” Canaday said.
Several bands will be playing throughout the fair, everything from county and rock to big band and oldies. During the final night of the fair on Sunday, Aug. 18, there will be a fireworks show presented by Quick Response.
There are two special admission days starting with Senior Day on Wednesday, Aug. 14, and Armed Services Day the following day. On those days, respectively, those 65 and older and active and retired members of the military will receive free admission until 4 p.m. These special free tickets do not included rides. Chauffeured golf carts will be available for seniors and veterans to assist travel across the fairgrounds, courtesy of St. Peter’s Health Care Services.
For information on the 120th Altamont Fair visit its website at altamontfair.com or call 861-6671. Anyone shorter than 36 inches can enter for free.