WEEDSPORT - During the first weekend in June, the Weedsport Fairgrounds become a busy place as the Weedsport Volunteer Fire Department holds its annual field days celebration.
The traditional summer celebration and fundraiser goes back almost as far as the department itself.
“It started sometime in the '30s,” Fire Chief Tom Winslow said. “The department started doing this as a fundraiser to help keep us going. I think it is the tradition of it that has helped keep it going so long. And it still helps raise funds to help keep the department going.”
As much the field days are a tradition for the department, they are equally important for the community. For many, like Nathan Kuykendal, the field days have been a life long tradition.
“I always come out for this,” Kuykendal said. “It is a just a good time and a chance to get together and hang out with friends and everything.”
As much as the field days have become a tradition, the event still takes a great deal of planning.
Winslow said that preliminary meetings for the summer event begin in February, with meetings with rides and concessions providers following and the final stages of planning starting in May.
“Then we get down here and work on the field,” Winslow said. “And start getting everything ready and set up. A lot of work goes into this.”
Along with midway crafts vendors and games there were several bands that performed over the course of the three days as well as other field-day staples like rides provided by Wheelock Rides.
“We've been working with them for at least the last 20 years,” Winslow said. “They do a really nice job, and I think we have some other really fun booths and things here this year.”
With so much to do, the field days have become an event that many Weedsport residents don't want to miss.
“I've been here all three days,” Brandon Derby said. “The rides are fun, the food is really good. It is a real tradition for me.”
With the funds raised going to help support the operation of the volunteer fire department, Winslow said he was pleased to see the turnout all three days of the gathering.
“We've had a lot of people,” Winslow said. “The weather, I think, was a big factor this year; we had a really warm day, good weather. And we have a very supportive community that really does support all that we try to do. They are very appreciative of what we do and we appreciate all the support we get back from them.”
“It started sometime in the '30s,” Fire Chief Tom Winslow said. “The department started doing this as a fundraiser to help keep us going. I think it is the tradition of it that has helped keep it going so long. And it still helps raise funds to help keep the department going.”
As much the field days are a tradition for the department, they are equally important for the community. For many, like Nathan Kuykendal, the field days have been a life long tradition.
“I always come out for this,” Kuykendal said. “It is a just a good time and a chance to get together and hang out with friends and everything.”
As much as the field days have become a tradition, the event still takes a great deal of planning.
Winslow said that preliminary meetings for the summer event begin in February, with meetings with rides and concessions providers following and the final stages of planning starting in May.
“Then we get down here and work on the field,” Winslow said. “And start getting everything ready and set up. A lot of work goes into this.”
Along with midway crafts vendors and games there were several bands that performed over the course of the three days as well as other field-day staples like rides provided by Wheelock Rides.
“We've been working with them for at least the last 20 years,” Winslow said. “They do a really nice job, and I think we have some other really fun booths and things here this year.”
With so much to do, the field days have become an event that many Weedsport residents don't want to miss.
“I've been here all three days,” Brandon Derby said. “The rides are fun, the food is really good. It is a real tradition for me.”
With the funds raised going to help support the operation of the volunteer fire department, Winslow said he was pleased to see the turnout all three days of the gathering.
“We've had a lot of people,” Winslow said. “The weather, I think, was a big factor this year; we had a really warm day, good weather. And we have a very supportive community that really does support all that we try to do. They are very appreciative of what we do and we appreciate all the support we get back from them.”
