Kutztown Fair celebrates with new old-fashioned contests and food in an in-person event
Aug. 3—After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ginger Schappell believes people are ready to return to the Kutztown Fair.
A few weeks ago, an outdoor country line dancing event at the Kutztown Fairgrounds, 450 Wentz St., Kutztown, drew more than 250 people.
Organizers were stunned and thrilled with the turnout.
It's a good sign that the 150th Kutztown Fair opening Aug. 9 at the fairgrounds will be well attended, they said.
"With that experience, we have good feelings that people will come out to the fair," Schappell said.
What's new
Fair organizers have also added new activities and events to attract a wider range of visitors and connect them to agriculture, which is the heart of the six-day event.
A homemade ice cream competition, a community-minded dunk tank and a pig roast are among the new-yet-old-fashioned activities expected to be popular.
"The theme this year is 150 fabulous fairs," said Schappell.
The dunk tank will be "stocked" with members of local nonprofits and civic groups such as FFA, she said. Each organization will be able to keep all the money it raises through the dunk tank.
The homemade ice cream contest will be held Aug. 10.
The ice cream must be made during the contest.
Once you sign up, you'll need to bring enough supplies for four quarts.
Hand-cranked and electric ice cream makers are allowed. Ice cream from the contest will be available for sale afterward. For details: https://kutztownfair.com/
The pig roast — held the 9th, 11th and 13th — will compliment other old-fashioned foods offered in addition to the myriad of stands, including sarsaparilla, popcorn, hot nuts, root beer floats and apple cider.
Sticking with theme, Children's Day on the 14th will have a ring toss, a bubblegum blowing contest, sack races and a water balloon toss, Schappell said.
On the 11th, visitors can hear about the Fair's history and share memories with Kutztown historian Brendan Strasser.
Also new this year is a Fair Crawl, said Lolly Lesher, vice president of the Kutztown Fair Association Board.
In the crawl, sponsored by Pure Wild Tea and Way-Har Farms, visitors can buy a $10 T-shirt and then visit the more than a dozen points of interest on the fairgrounds. The points include petting a goat, find the Blue Ribbon chocolate cake, visit a grange food stand and see the Best of Show market basket.
"The hope is to get our visitors to see more of the fair," Lesher said. "Then, once their shirt is colored in, they can go to the office to get an entry ticket, complete the entry ticket, for a chance to win $200 cash."
Here's are a few other highlights of the week:
Aug. 9: Senior Citizen's Day (half price admission for seniors age 65 and older) Opening ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. featuring Boy Scouts and the mayor of Kutztown. A sale of baked goods entered in the competition follows. Proceeds from the sale go to the Fair's scholarship fund.
Aug. 10: Dairy Show (part I); homemade ice cream making contest; sheep shearing; pie-eating contest; giant sundae.
Aug. 11: Dairy Show, (part II); Kutztown Fair History talk; Animal Mardi Gras show
Aug. 12: Dairy Beef fitting and showmanship; pedal tractor pull; bale pitch
Aug. 13: Swine show, line dancing
Aug. 14: Children's Day, livestock sale and benefit barrow sale, cornhole contest and benefit board auction, sheep shearing demo, sale of 4-H youth woven shawl
"Kutztown Fair is the largest fair in the county, with the most animals, most rides, and entertainment," Lesher added. "It is a great family event, an affordable night of fun!"
