Organizers say they will also hold a fall festival as well
By Stefan Yablonski
The Oswego County Fair is going “back to the basics” this year. It will be held June 30 – July 2, at the fairgrounds in Sandy Creek. The event has been held for 164 years.
“We plan events with family in mind. We plan events that are exciting, educational and entertaining for individuals of all ages,” according to Timothy Ridgeway, chairman of Oswego Agricultural Society, which sponsors the Oswego County Fair. He is also the senior vice president of the fair’s board and town supervisor for Sandy Creek.
“We self-govern; we try to get sponsorships and the county helps out,” added secretary of the board of directors Teresa Stowell Hollis.“We’re a nonprofit organization,” she explained. “We keep the doors open and we pay the bills. If there’s some funds left over, we put it right into the fair.”
Free, fun and educational events for families are planned.
“We’re going back to the basics this year — a lot of people, especially the locals, look forward to it — a small town county fair,” Ridgeway said. “Things have changed over the years; it’s a whole different ball game. But the primary focus of the fair will always be agriculture. We have to keep that alive.”
They will have animal shows throughout the fair. A horse show under the lights is planned for Friday night. There’ll be truck pulls Saturday, and the fair will bring back tractor pulls (including some antique tractors) on Sunday.
This year’s fair will also offer a circus style attraction; Circle Incredible, it’s like an aerial act, he said.
Other events include a corn hole tournament slated for Saturday, talent show Sunday, children’s events, youth activities, line dancing, horse barrel racing, super-modified trucks, live music, food, and alcohol.
“We have four really awesome bands that are going to be performing,” Hollis said, adding that Ontario Amusements will again be providing the rides and that there will be food provided by the Lacona Fire Department and other food vendors.
They are taking things and spreading them out throughout the year, Hollis explained. For this reason, organizers are planning a fall festival.
The Oswego County Fair’s Family Fall Festival will be held at the end of September, beginning of October. Hours for the fall festival will be Sept. 29 (5-9 p.m.), Sept. 30 (10 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Oct. 1 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.).
