WEEDSPORT - Whether it be the roar of the crowd following the prelude performance of an intricate tap dancing routine or the humbling silence concluding a soulful sonnet, talented performers have been entertaining guests of the Cayuga County Fair for years.
“We usually have 10 to 20 performers,” said Brandi Feocco, vice president of the fair's board of directors and organizer of the talent show. “It has become something really popular and a lot of fun for kids to get up and perform.”
While this year there were fewer acts than in previous years it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of any of the singers of dancers that hit the stage, all vying for the opportunity to go on and compete at the State Fair in Syracuse.
“This is a qualifier for the New York State Fair Talent Showcase,” Feocco said. “They've been doing that at the fair for a long time - I think ever since the State Fair began - and this gives kids the chance to go on and compete there.”
This year drew a number of performers, some, like Kristen Paparelli, 15, of Cato, were making the fair debut.
Paparelli performed Christina Aguleria's “I've Got Trouble,” as well as an a cappella version of the '60s staple “Build Me Up Buttercup.”
“I love to sing,” Paparelli said. “It is my passion, it is the one thing that I think I am really talented at and I love to get up on stage and entertain people, so I thought this might be a good way to get a little more attention for my singing.”
Others, like Heather Lardeo, 15, of Auburn, have made their way to the talent show for a number of years.
“I've been here four or five years now,” Lardeo said. “I'm here all the time; it is a lot of fun.”
Lardeo has also earned a spot in the State Fair competition several years in a row, where she said the competition is pretty tough, but the experience is still a lot of fun.
Lardeo was joined on stage in a duet with her friend Jake Lauckern, 15, of Auburn, in a performance of “Let's Fall in Love.”
“We both sing,” Lauckern said. “But we've never really sang together before. We only had like a day to get the song together, but it was a lot of fun.”
Lauckern and Lardeo also performed the solo pieces “God Bless The U.S.A.” and “Before He Cheats.”
These older performers were joined by some young, but seasoned, performers like Natalie McKela, 6, of Auburn, who was appearing for her second year after winning a spot at the State Fair last year.
McKela performed a dance routine to “Real Wild Child.”
McKela began dancing when she was 2.
“I started watching a show on Disney,” McKela said, “and then I asked my mom if I could do dance. It is a lot of fun to show what you've learned and dance in front of people.”
Performers were judged on a number of criteria, including stage presence, audience reaction and creativity.
At the end of the day four performers found themselves winning the chance to go to the State Fair.
McKela, Lauckern (as a soloist), Lardeo (as a soloist) and Kalli McKinney, who performed an Irish dance routine, have all earned the opportunity to go on and perform.
“I think it's wonderful,” Nicole McKela, Natalie's mother, said. “I love to see her perform. I really think this is wonderful for her.”
Today is the final day of the Cayuga County Fair
8 a.m. - Pancake breakfast (Cato Masonic Lodge)
9 a.m. - Ag gates open, open horse show
All day - Alpacas, sheep, goats, beef on display
11 a.m. - Chicken barbecue, hay bale throws
11:30 a.m. - Garden tractor pull
12 p.m. - Exhibit building/crafts and vendors; Midway (unlimited rides 1 to 5 p.m., $12)
1 p.m. - Alpaca and goat show; Water balloon throw
2 and 6 p.m. - The Custom Taylor Band (Free)
3 p.m. - Alpaca obstacle demonstration
4 p.m. - Pedal tractor pull
7 and 11 p.m. - Sarah Horner (free)
10 p.m. - Fireworks
While this year there were fewer acts than in previous years it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of any of the singers of dancers that hit the stage, all vying for the opportunity to go on and compete at the State Fair in Syracuse.
“This is a qualifier for the New York State Fair Talent Showcase,” Feocco said. “They've been doing that at the fair for a long time - I think ever since the State Fair began - and this gives kids the chance to go on and compete there.”
This year drew a number of performers, some, like Kristen Paparelli, 15, of Cato, were making the fair debut.
Paparelli performed Christina Aguleria's “I've Got Trouble,” as well as an a cappella version of the '60s staple “Build Me Up Buttercup.”
“I love to sing,” Paparelli said. “It is my passion, it is the one thing that I think I am really talented at and I love to get up on stage and entertain people, so I thought this might be a good way to get a little more attention for my singing.”
Others, like Heather Lardeo, 15, of Auburn, have made their way to the talent show for a number of years.
“I've been here four or five years now,” Lardeo said. “I'm here all the time; it is a lot of fun.”
Lardeo has also earned a spot in the State Fair competition several years in a row, where she said the competition is pretty tough, but the experience is still a lot of fun.
Lardeo was joined on stage in a duet with her friend Jake Lauckern, 15, of Auburn, in a performance of “Let's Fall in Love.”
“We both sing,” Lauckern said. “But we've never really sang together before. We only had like a day to get the song together, but it was a lot of fun.”
Lauckern and Lardeo also performed the solo pieces “God Bless The U.S.A.” and “Before He Cheats.”
These older performers were joined by some young, but seasoned, performers like Natalie McKela, 6, of Auburn, who was appearing for her second year after winning a spot at the State Fair last year.
McKela performed a dance routine to “Real Wild Child.”
McKela began dancing when she was 2.
“I started watching a show on Disney,” McKela said, “and then I asked my mom if I could do dance. It is a lot of fun to show what you've learned and dance in front of people.”
Performers were judged on a number of criteria, including stage presence, audience reaction and creativity.
At the end of the day four performers found themselves winning the chance to go to the State Fair.
McKela, Lauckern (as a soloist), Lardeo (as a soloist) and Kalli McKinney, who performed an Irish dance routine, have all earned the opportunity to go on and perform.
“I think it's wonderful,” Nicole McKela, Natalie's mother, said. “I love to see her perform. I really think this is wonderful for her.”
Today is the final day of the Cayuga County Fair
8 a.m. - Pancake breakfast (Cato Masonic Lodge)
9 a.m. - Ag gates open, open horse show
All day - Alpacas, sheep, goats, beef on display
11 a.m. - Chicken barbecue, hay bale throws
11:30 a.m. - Garden tractor pull
12 p.m. - Exhibit building/crafts and vendors; Midway (unlimited rides 1 to 5 p.m., $12)
1 p.m. - Alpaca and goat show; Water balloon throw
2 and 6 p.m. - The Custom Taylor Band (Free)
3 p.m. - Alpaca obstacle demonstration
4 p.m. - Pedal tractor pull
7 and 11 p.m. - Sarah Horner (free)
10 p.m. - Fireworks
