County Fair Announces Full Slate

Beef, chicken or pork on a stick? Check.

Corn on the cob? Check.

Giant vegetables, tractors, animals and great carnival rides? Check, check, check and check.

It’s almost that time again, and the Middlesex County Fair Association has announced a full schedule of events for this year’s weeklong event, to be held at . The fair, now in its 73rd year, will showcase the county’s agricultural heritage through live animals and vintage farm equipment while offering a full schedule of rides, food, craft vendors, entertainers, live music, 4-H events, and home arts competitions.

The fair will be open Monday, Aug. 1, through Friday, Aug. 5 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tickets are $6 – among the lowest for county fairs in New Jersey – and free parking. Seniors 65 and older can get a discounted $4 entry fee, and children 3-12 may enter for $1. Children under 3 may enter for free, as well as anyone who donates blood at the Red Cross truck located at the fair throughout the week.

“For many area residents, this is the kind of unique event where young adults, parents, and grandparents have been coming together every year for generations,” said Alan Habiak, president of the Middlesex County Fair Association. “More than 75,000 people joined in the festivities last year, and we expect an equally strong showing with our full 2011 schedule.”

Fair week will be kicked off on Monday with a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. Country radio station WKMK-FM, Thunder 106.3/106.5, will also be broadcasting live throughout opening day, as well as Saturday, Aug. 6.

Fairgoers are encouraged to visit the fair association’s website, www.middlesexcountyfair.org, for a full printable schedule of events and entertainment at the fair.

2011 Fair Highlights

Ride Prices

• Pay One Price rides – $20 – Tuesday through Thursday, all operating hours; Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, all operating hours
• Mega Pass – $40 – good for rides all week
• Ride tickets – 75 cents each or 28 tickets for $20

Daily Entertainment

• Barnyard Express – an interactive, educational agriculture show for young children that features live farm animals
• Rosaire’s Bears and The Big Bear Show – a show featuring live grizzly bears
• Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Show – a show featuring acrobats performing stunts as high as 30 feet in the air
• Hilby The Skinny German Juggle Boy – a show featuring juggling, unicycle tricks, and fire manipulations

Live Music

• Monday – Sibling Rivalry
• Tuesday – The RockNRoll Chorus and The Nerds
• Wednesday – Amish Outlaws and Chelsea Carlson
• Thursday – Sound Entertainment DJ/Karaoke and Ballroom Dreams
• Friday – Alluring Ballroom, Ridgemont High Band, Danielle Ashley
• Saturday – Brother Trouble and After the Reign
• Sunday – The Underwater Country Club and Nikki Britt

Home Arts

• Visit www.middlesexcountyfair.org or your local library to see the hundreds of classes in 14 divisions you may enter and to obtain an entry form. Or, see the file attached to this story.
• Separate divisions for adults, children (by age) and special participants
• You do not have to live in Middlesex County to enter. Everyone is welcome.
• All entries remain on display in the Home Arts building for the duration of the fair.
• E-mail questions to mcfairhomearts@yahoo.com
• Pre-registration deadline is July 23.
• You may also register (forms will be available) at the fairgrounds when you bring your items on entry day July 31, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

4-H Events

• More than 400 4-H members will be showcasing their 4-H projects, including small animals, dogs, horses, livestock, remote control cars, crafts and clothing, archery, dance and more
• The public is invited to attend the annual 4-H Kids Night, a free event that includes cupcake decorating, face painting, balloon animals, demonstrations and crafts.  This event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. in the 4-H Event Tent
• New this year is a 4-H Craft Workshop open to the public. Families are invited to come and make fun and easy crafts. Appropriate for all ages. This event will be held Saturday, Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. in the 4-H Event Tent.
• All are invited to visit the 4-H animal displays! As always, there will be guinea pig and rabbit races in the small animal tent.
• Dog owners are invited to an "Ask the Trainer" session on Friday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. n the 4-H Dog Ring. 4-H dog trainers will be on hand to answer questions.
• The will give dance lessons on Wednesday, Aug. 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in front of the 4-H Information Building. Come join us and learn what clogging is all about.

2011 Middlesex County Fair Charity Challenge Entry Information

• Sponsored by Bonamici, Colletti, PC, CPAs of Spotswood
• Non-profit organizations may set up a jug to collect donations at the Charity Challenge table during fair week
• Runs all of fair week and open to all non-profits in Middlesex County that are able to produce an IRS tax-exempt determination letter
• Charity with most money by Sunday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. receives additional $500 from Bonamici, Colletti, PC, CPAs
• Those wishing to enter should write to the fair association at PO Box 400, Milltown, N.J. 08850 with the charity name, contact name, phone number, email, and IRS tax-exempt determination letter

Entry Information for King and Queen of the Fair Nominations

• Entries must be submitted by July 31, 2011
• Interested individuals can download the form on the fair website, www.middlesexcountyfair.org

Farmer of the Year 

• Clarence W. Dey, Jr. (posthumous)

Volunteer of the Year 

• Sheila Angalet