The Citizen
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Margaret Guarino shows her baby Kylie Guarino, 1, to the audience and judges as other mothers wait their turn to show off their babies during the baby show at the Cayuga County Fair Thursday evening.
Margaret Guarino shows her baby Kylie Guarino, 1, to the audience and judges as other mothers wait their turn to show off their babies during the baby show at the Cayuga County Fair Thursday evening.
WEEDSPORT - Alpacas gamboled, water balloons burst and the Tilt-a-Whirl - well - whirled during opening day at the Cayuga County Fair.
Visitors and vendors were glad to see the fair back after a year's hiatus.
“I just love county fairs, they're just so much fun,” said Diane Hartman, of Hannibal. Hartman was on hand to help her son, Kenny, and husband, Randy, sell the family's homemade marshmallow blowguns. “You meet all types of people,” she said.
Sure enough, people from all over made their way to the fairgrounds at the Cayuga County Speedway Thursday.
The crowds got thicker and the lines grew longer as the day wore on. And don't believe visitors didn't appreciate some generous accommodations the fair committee made this year: specifically, not charging for entry or parking.
“The best change they made this year was the free admission,” said
Pam Rose, whose young granddaughters, Hannah and Cassidy, busied themselves in a vendor's tent.
Five and 6 years old, respectively, the girls from Savannah cared more about the rides they were about to enjoy than about who was footing the bill for an evening of family fun.
“I want to go on the big-kid rides,” Hannah said about rides like the Tilt-a-Whirl. Cassidy agreed wholeheartedly, expressing a desire to go on the kinds of rides that “spin around fast.”
Day one of the fair saw 6-month-old Connor Wise, all baby fat, brown hair and smiles, enrolled in a baby contest that took place on the fairgrounds' community stage.
Prior to taking his place among 15 other contestants in the 0-18 month age division, Connor good-naturedly sported his grandmother's sunglasses - an accessory Margaret Wise could not resist perching on her grandson's small nose.
“One of us always has a camera in his face,” Wise said laughing, as Connor grinned away in his mother's arms.
“He's happy all the time,” said his mother, Lisa Benham. Prizes were awarded for best eyes, best smile and cutest baby overall.
Still, the contest, trophies and medals were lost on Connor, who seemed simply happy to soak up all the attention and hugs from his family.
And for the judges, he flashed a grin on cue.
The baby contest gave way to square dancing events later in the evening.
The night was scheduled to culminate with fireworks, which will also take place on the fair's last night, Sunday, July 9.
The first day also included a hot dog eating contest, water balloon tosses and lawnmower races.
In short, there was something for everyone, and most noticed the wider variety of rides.
“That'll attract kids 12 and younger,” said Robert Coe, who accompanied Angelica Stewart and her 12-year-old brother, Gus.
Stewart expressed more appreciation for the free parking than the rides; no matter what appealed to visitors most, the idea was to hold a fair that appealed to everyone, period.
“We wanted to bring the county back to the fair,” said John Lester, the fair committee's director.
The fair's return thrilled Brenda Poole, mostly because the event offers stimulating fun for children in a locality she said is bereft of activities for them.
“There's not enough things around the area for kids to do, and nowhere to take them except for the movie theater,” she said.
Beverly Leonti couldn't have agreed more.
“It's nice for the families to get out and get together, and it does the children good,” the Weedsport resident said.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Today at the fair
9 a.m. Ag gates open
All day Alpacas and products, sheep and goats on
display, 4-H horse show
11 a.m. Alpaca obstacle
demonstration
Noon Exhibit building/crafts
and vendors open
1 p.m. Fashion show
3 p.m. Alpaca obstacle
demonstration
4 p.m. Chicken barbecue (P.B./Savannah Masons)
5 p.m. Midway opens,
water ballon throw
6 p.m. Peddle tractor pull,
open beef show, alpaca
obstacle demonstration
7 p.m. 7th annual Enduro (grandstand)
Water balloon throw
7-11 p.m. Ruby Shoozes
(community stage)
Visitors and vendors were glad to see the fair back after a year's hiatus.
“I just love county fairs, they're just so much fun,” said Diane Hartman, of Hannibal. Hartman was on hand to help her son, Kenny, and husband, Randy, sell the family's homemade marshmallow blowguns. “You meet all types of people,” she said.
Sure enough, people from all over made their way to the fairgrounds at the Cayuga County Speedway Thursday.
The crowds got thicker and the lines grew longer as the day wore on. And don't believe visitors didn't appreciate some generous accommodations the fair committee made this year: specifically, not charging for entry or parking.
“The best change they made this year was the free admission,” said
Pam Rose, whose young granddaughters, Hannah and Cassidy, busied themselves in a vendor's tent.
Five and 6 years old, respectively, the girls from Savannah cared more about the rides they were about to enjoy than about who was footing the bill for an evening of family fun.
“I want to go on the big-kid rides,” Hannah said about rides like the Tilt-a-Whirl. Cassidy agreed wholeheartedly, expressing a desire to go on the kinds of rides that “spin around fast.”
Day one of the fair saw 6-month-old Connor Wise, all baby fat, brown hair and smiles, enrolled in a baby contest that took place on the fairgrounds' community stage.
Prior to taking his place among 15 other contestants in the 0-18 month age division, Connor good-naturedly sported his grandmother's sunglasses - an accessory Margaret Wise could not resist perching on her grandson's small nose.
“One of us always has a camera in his face,” Wise said laughing, as Connor grinned away in his mother's arms.
“He's happy all the time,” said his mother, Lisa Benham. Prizes were awarded for best eyes, best smile and cutest baby overall.
Still, the contest, trophies and medals were lost on Connor, who seemed simply happy to soak up all the attention and hugs from his family.
And for the judges, he flashed a grin on cue.
The baby contest gave way to square dancing events later in the evening.
The night was scheduled to culminate with fireworks, which will also take place on the fair's last night, Sunday, July 9.
The first day also included a hot dog eating contest, water balloon tosses and lawnmower races.
In short, there was something for everyone, and most noticed the wider variety of rides.
“That'll attract kids 12 and younger,” said Robert Coe, who accompanied Angelica Stewart and her 12-year-old brother, Gus.
Stewart expressed more appreciation for the free parking than the rides; no matter what appealed to visitors most, the idea was to hold a fair that appealed to everyone, period.
“We wanted to bring the county back to the fair,” said John Lester, the fair committee's director.
The fair's return thrilled Brenda Poole, mostly because the event offers stimulating fun for children in a locality she said is bereft of activities for them.
“There's not enough things around the area for kids to do, and nowhere to take them except for the movie theater,” she said.
Beverly Leonti couldn't have agreed more.
“It's nice for the families to get out and get together, and it does the children good,” the Weedsport resident said.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Today at the fair
9 a.m. Ag gates open
All day Alpacas and products, sheep and goats on
display, 4-H horse show
11 a.m. Alpaca obstacle
demonstration
Noon Exhibit building/crafts
and vendors open
1 p.m. Fashion show
3 p.m. Alpaca obstacle
demonstration
4 p.m. Chicken barbecue (P.B./Savannah Masons)
5 p.m. Midway opens,
water ballon throw
6 p.m. Peddle tractor pull,
open beef show, alpaca
obstacle demonstration
7 p.m. 7th annual Enduro (grandstand)
Water balloon throw
7-11 p.m. Ruby Shoozes
(community stage)
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