Middlesex County Fair Trustee Recalls Past 75 Years

When Mary Etsch began attending the Middlesex County Fair 75 years ago as a teenager, it was a small farmers' fair on Dunhams Corner Road.

She went with her parents, because attending the fair was the "thing to do," she said.

Since that time, the fair has grown into the behemoth it is today, chock full of rides, dozens of food vendors, shows and demonstrations, 4-H exhibitions and livestock, and nearly 70,000 annual visitors.

The fair is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day this week, and will close at 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug 11, following a fireworks display.

It is located at the county fairgrounds at 655 Cranbury Road.

The fair is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and Etsch is a part of that celebration, having been there for pretty much all of those years.

After attending the fair with her parents and then with her own family over the years, Etsch said she found herself as an annual volunteer until fair organizers asked her to serve as a trustee.

Etsch now oversees about 100 volunteers who work the entrance gates, selling and taking tickets from fairgoers, a large part of the mostly volunteer effort that is behind the organization of the fair.

"We work all year long," she said, noting that even while opening night unfolded on Monday, some components of next year's fair are already underway.

Etsch said that her favorite part of the fair is watching people enjoy the different attractions.

"There's something for everybody," she said. "(And) the food I don't think can be beat."

Tonight, Tuesday, Aug. 6, the Middlesex County Fair will feature a performance from The Nerds at 8 p.m., a dog show beginning at 6:30 p.m. and pig races at 5:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

For more information on the fair, visit www.middlesexcountyfair.com.