Boonville Oneida County Fair returns: What you need to know
Despite water damage sustained at the fairgrounds during heavy rains last fall, the Boonville Oneida County Fair returns Tuesday with a stacked lineup of shows, games and plenty of food.
The fair, which runs through July 31, boasts a plethora of activities every day, including 4-H demonstrations, agricultural shows, educational exhibits and the Commerford Petting Zoo.
Other events include drone demonstrations by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, kiddie tractor pedal pulls, a demolition derby and animal shows.
Country musician Tracy Byrd will perform in the fair's headlining concert with special guests The Nelson Brothers Band on July 30.
How rain complicated preparations for 2022 fair
At a July 13 meeting of the Oneida County Board of Legislators, fair officials said heavy rains in the fall of 2021 caused issues with culverts at the fairgrounds, along with the walking bridge, which is the entrance to the fair. The bridge also is used by the nearby Adirondack High School.
“This year there have been many things that have gone wrong,” said Boonville Oneida County Fair Board of Directors President Dave Hyatt. “We have so much water.”
Fair officials said they did not have enough money to fix the bridge themselves but said the county helped them acquire the necessary funds — the amount of money required for the repair was not immediately released — and that repair work had started on the bridge that day.
Foods you will find at Boonville Oneida:Funnel cakes, gyros, loaded pierogies
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of the 2020 fair, it returned last year to great fanfare, following guidelines from the state, and 2022 marks the 134th Boonville Oneida County Fair. It was first held in 1888 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1988.
“We have a great county fair,” said Carl Trainor, a member of the fair board of directors who grew up across the street from the fairgrounds and spoke at the board meeting. “It’s been very good for our community. It’s put Boonville on the map. It’s kept Boonville on the map.”
Boonville Oneida County Fair admission, special events
When: Gates open 8 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday.
Where: Boonville Oneida County Fairgrounds, state Route 294, Boonville, New York.
Cost: Admission to the fair costs $6 for adults over the age of 13, $3 for seniors over the age of 60. Children under the age of 12 can enter for free.
Parking: Parking is free near the Adirondack High School.
Concert: Tracy Byrd will perform Saturday, July 30. Tickets are $30-$35 and available on the fair’s website through Etix.
Special events: After 5 p.m. July 26, get free entry to the fair with a receipt from that day of a $10 or more purchase from any merchant in Oneida County. A parade takes place that night at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks at dusk. On July 27, get free entry to the fair when you bring a canned good to donate to Feed Our Vets.
More information: Visit boonvillefair.com
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Boonville Oneida County Fair 2022: Tickets, parking, Tracy Byrd concert
