It takes a special kind of event to send people up a greased pole. But there is more to Jordan's annual Fall Festival than the now-famous race at the end of the weekend.

While the greased pole climb is the festival's biggest draw, the 62-year-old event uses the entire weekend to show off the history and character of central New York while raising money for local charities.

“It really is a representation of how a community can come together and pull off this fundraiser,” said Maureen Doyle, co-chair of the festival committee. “It really shows a huge effort from across the community.”

The festival kicks off Friday in Jordan and will feature three days of music, food, games and other attractions. There will be a car show, a regional soccer challenge, live reptile shows, a book sale and plenty of amusement rides throughout the weekend.

But one of the things that makes the Jordan Fall Festival unique, Doyle said, is its adherence to a family-friendly atmosphere. No alcohol is served or allowed. And volunteers are stationed at food booths, which means families can attend and eat for reasonable prices, Doyle said.

“You can get a full chicken barbecue dinner for eight bucks, and a hot dog will cost a dollar,” she said. “And a family in the area can easily come to Jordan and get home on less than a tank of gas.”

Doyle said the event's family-first attitude must be working, because they are breaking records every year. Last time, 2,100 chicken dinners were sold, she said. More than 500 entries were included in the car show, and 35,000 homemade doughnuts were sold at last year's event, Doyle said.

“I know three women who come out from Auburn just for the doughnuts,” she said. “They buy dozens of doughnuts, and then they freeze them for later.”

Despite the variety of activities, the festival's main attraction continues to be the pole climb, during which men and women try to get to the top of a 30-foot pole covered in vegetable shortening. Hundreds of people come every year on Sunday to see the teams climb the slimy pole, Doyle said.

“It amazes me how many people come to watch it,” she said. It is definitely unique.“

But while the pole-climbers and attendees may get a lot of the attention, the volunteers really drive the festival, Doyle said. Nearly 400 people will be on hand to help run the festival. Many of them come from families with multiple generations of volunteers, she said.

“We have families from across central New York who volunteer,” she said. “We really draw them from quite a wide area.”

Christopher Caskey

253-5311 ext. 282

christopher.caskey@lee.net

If you go.

What: Jordan Fall Festival

When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21

Where: Beaver Street, Jordan

Cost: Free

Info: Call 730-7498