What does scaling a greased pole have to do with celebrating the start of the fall season?
The Citizen
Slip into autumnn
Slip into autumnn
In Jordan, everything. The 61st annual Jordan Fall Festival will shuffle between 15,000 and 20,000 central New Yorkers into autumn with fun activities, food and the sight of antique machines.
If the festival is a tent, the greased poles are, well, the poles. Quartets of men and women will compete at 1 p.m. Sunday to see who can climb to the 30-foot top and swipe a $20 bill in the quickest time.
If the smooth surface of the metal isn't difficult enough to ascend, the Crisco covering it will add much more to the challenge. Cash prizes await the speediest climbers.
At 11 a.m. Sunday, younger climbers can test their skills on diagonal poles with spotters and straw to break any potential falls.
The greased pole climb is the last remnant of Woodsmen's Day, which gathered environmental students from local colleges to square off against each other in tree-sawing and other nature-oriented contests.
Although Woodsmen's Day has since concluded, the pole climb continued at the Jordan Fall Festival.
“It was a very popular event,” said Shirley Drummond, chair of the festival. “I don't think there's another one in New York state,” she said.
The festival will kick off Friday night with a performance by classic rock band Gary Dunes and the Del-Tunes. Despite uninviting weather in past years - including a visit from Hurricane Hugo's leftovers in 1989 - Drummond does not believe attendance will be lessened too severely by the weather.
Drummond expects the antique tractor and car, truck and bike shows to also prove to be popular events at the festival.
Tractors and engines from years past will be shown Saturday, while automobiles will be lined up for onlookers on Sunday.
This year, the Antique & Classic Car, Bike n' Truck Show will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Past festivals have counted more than 300 classic automobiles brought in by owners from across central New York. The entry count at this year's festival is currently on track to break that number.
“This might be a banner year for us,” Drummond said. “We're hoping for a big show.”
The festival will also offer a wide selection of food prepared by volunteer groups such as the Greater Elbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Jordan-Elbridge Area Church Board.
Chicken barbecue on Saturday and Sunday, fish, a Sunday pancake breakfast and fried dough are among the delicacies that will be served.
The homemade doughnuts - just in time for the autumn season - are among the most asked-for treats.
More than 300 volunteers will be working at the festival to not only assist with food, but also organize attractions like the pole climbs, pumpkin painting and the massive arts and crafts tent.
Some others will operate the several amusement park rides, including a Ferris wheel and a tilt-a-whirl.
All the proceeds from the festival will go to the Jordan Library, the local food pantry and a handful of other helpful community services.
“We're kind of like a United Way for the community,” Drummond said.
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you go
What: Jordan Fall Festival
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23
Where: Beaver Street, Jordan
Admission: Free
For details: Call 689-9423
If the festival is a tent, the greased poles are, well, the poles. Quartets of men and women will compete at 1 p.m. Sunday to see who can climb to the 30-foot top and swipe a $20 bill in the quickest time.
If the smooth surface of the metal isn't difficult enough to ascend, the Crisco covering it will add much more to the challenge. Cash prizes await the speediest climbers.
At 11 a.m. Sunday, younger climbers can test their skills on diagonal poles with spotters and straw to break any potential falls.
The greased pole climb is the last remnant of Woodsmen's Day, which gathered environmental students from local colleges to square off against each other in tree-sawing and other nature-oriented contests.
Although Woodsmen's Day has since concluded, the pole climb continued at the Jordan Fall Festival.
“It was a very popular event,” said Shirley Drummond, chair of the festival. “I don't think there's another one in New York state,” she said.
The festival will kick off Friday night with a performance by classic rock band Gary Dunes and the Del-Tunes. Despite uninviting weather in past years - including a visit from Hurricane Hugo's leftovers in 1989 - Drummond does not believe attendance will be lessened too severely by the weather.
Drummond expects the antique tractor and car, truck and bike shows to also prove to be popular events at the festival.
Tractors and engines from years past will be shown Saturday, while automobiles will be lined up for onlookers on Sunday.
This year, the Antique & Classic Car, Bike n' Truck Show will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Past festivals have counted more than 300 classic automobiles brought in by owners from across central New York. The entry count at this year's festival is currently on track to break that number.
“This might be a banner year for us,” Drummond said. “We're hoping for a big show.”
The festival will also offer a wide selection of food prepared by volunteer groups such as the Greater Elbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Jordan-Elbridge Area Church Board.
Chicken barbecue on Saturday and Sunday, fish, a Sunday pancake breakfast and fried dough are among the delicacies that will be served.
The homemade doughnuts - just in time for the autumn season - are among the most asked-for treats.
More than 300 volunteers will be working at the festival to not only assist with food, but also organize attractions like the pole climbs, pumpkin painting and the massive arts and crafts tent.
Some others will operate the several amusement park rides, including a Ferris wheel and a tilt-a-whirl.
All the proceeds from the festival will go to the Jordan Library, the local food pantry and a handful of other helpful community services.
“We're kind of like a United Way for the community,” Drummond said.
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you go
What: Jordan Fall Festival
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23
Where: Beaver Street, Jordan
Admission: Free
For details: Call 689-9423
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