The 178th Cattaraugus County Fair will kick off for seven days beginning Aug. 1 in Little Valley. The event was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. P-J file photo

With COVID-related restrictions easing across New York, many have set sights on a familiar summertime staple: County fairs.

With the lack of fairs last year during the pandemic, the ability to have them again this year is one of the many hopeful signs that the pandemic is slowly coming to its end. The Chautauqua County Fair is the main exception, having to be canceled again this year due to the lack of instruction from the state, though 4-H organizers have planned an “Un-Fair” later this month.

In Little Valley, plans for the Cattaraugus County Fair are fully underway, with presale tickets on sale now until July 31. The Cattaraugus County Fair will be held from Aug. 1 to 7, representing its 178th year. The theme is “Making Memories Around Every Turn.”

According to Nell Fellows, Cattaraugus County Fair Board secretary, waiting on permission from New York state proved most difficult. “We plan year-round for the fair, so the most difficult part was waiting on the OK from the state,” Fellows said.

Early on in the planning process, the fair board had to send a COVID-19 precaution plan to the state to be approved. The plan, Fellows said, included many steps such as keeping things clean and getting people from one place to another — and then selling tickets. With most restrictions now lifted, the board is still planning on sticking to its usual safety and cleanliness plans, just in a slightly heightened way.

“We are asking for those who are not yet vaccinated to still wear a mask and stay socially distant, but we won’t be checking people’s vaccine cards or anything,” Fellows said. “It will be safety first as usual anyway.”

The events for the fair, from the country singers to the standard event such as the fair’s petting zoo, mostly rolled over from the last year that were unable to take place in 2020. Some new events have been planned, such as a rodeo and sea lion splash event — but Fellows said most events were pretty much set.

Other events include the demolition derby, Jordan Davis concert, Justin Moore concert, Monster Truck Rally, and the popular “Horses, Horses, Horses” event.

“I think we’re going to have some very happy fairgoers,” Fellows said. “This is the first event that has been able to happen to this magnitude in a year and a half. We’re hoping for a very good crowd and some very happy people.”

Presale tickets for the Cattaraugus County Fair are available now until July 31, and allow people to save 30% on ticket prices. Tickets are available online through the Cattaraugus County Fair website, which is new because of the COVID restrictions, and something Fellows said will most likely continue in the future.

“With online ticket sales people can buy online and pick a specific seat and section for the grandstand without having to wait in line or save a seat,” he said. “This is something we will probably continue in the future, even for free shows.”

The tickets are also available at the fairgrounds, all Cattaraugus County Banks, Cattaraugus County Federal Credit Union, South Dayton Super Duper and Olean Area Community Banks.