It's mid-summer and that means county fair time. We've gathered everything you need to enjoy these hard-to-break summer traditions.
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY FAIR
Where: 1089 Central Ave., Dunkirk, N.Y.
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It’s mid-summer and that means county fair time. Each fair features highlights of its own beyond the amusement ride attractions and carnival booths.
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When: July 27-Aug. 2
How much: $8 general admission Monday-Thursday, $9 Friday-Sunday
Highlights: The fair will host its first bull riding competition, which will begin Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. Also featured will be two demolition derbies, one on July 28 at 7 p.m. and the winners of the first will compete again on Aug.2 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $11 for the lower grandstand and $8 for the upper. If you're short on time, skip the first, go to the championship round and really get your money's worth of rampant destruction.
Source: www.chautauquacountyfair.org
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY FAIR
Where: 501 Erie St., Little Valley, N.Y.
When: Aug. 3-9
How much: $9 general admission
Highlights: Jason Aldean is the fair's featured performer, and will appear Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. with another group, The Willow Band. Aldean is famous for his hit single, "She's Country," which he performed at the County Music Awards. The Macon, Ga., native sold two million copies of his first two albums, according to his Web site. Tickets cost $28 for track seats and $23 for grandstand seating.
Other possibilities include four demolition derbies and a monster truck rally.
Source: www.cattarauguscofair.com
WARREN COUNTY FAIR
Where: Warren County Fairgrounds, Pittsfield, Pa.
When: Aug. 9-16
How much: $9 gate admission, children under 2 free.
Highlights: Animal lover? Be sure to catch these two daily acts: Jesse & James & Mutts Gone Nuts, a performance that's definitely gone to the dogs, and Kachunga & The Alligator Show, another example of foolheartyness that's still great entertainment. The musical star is Jo Dee Messina, who will perform Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Floor seats are $26, and bleacher seats are $24. Messina has recorded nine No. 1 singles, and her first album, which debuted in 1996, was produced by fellow country singer, Tim McGraw, according to her Web site.
Source: www.warrencountyfair.net
ERIE COUNTY FAIR
Where: 5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg, N.Y.
When: Aug. 12-23
How much: Adults $10, seniors $7, children 12 and under free.
Highlights: For the kids or the young at heart, catch the Swifty Swine racing pigs, which will brighten your day. John Cassidy, the balloontologist, is also a must, thanks to his frenetic antics and high-energy show.
For those who prefer to keep their inner child on a tighter leash, the fair also has plenty of musical talent. Backbeat '64, Joe and the Schmoes, and a Beatles tribute band will delight those who remember what LBJ stands for. There's The Frankfurters, a German-American style band, and the Caribbean Experience group, for an outside-the-box feel, too. Headliners include the Steve Miller Band, The Temptations and George Thorogood.
Source: www.americas-fair.com