Tractor pulls, music, contests set for Greene-Dreher-Sterling Fair

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·8 min read

The 106th Greene-Dreher-Sterling (GDS) Fair starts late Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, at the fairgrounds in the village of Newfoundland, Wayne County, concluding Sunday, Sept. 3.

This small country fair has kept close to its traditions, Fair President Anne Fox affirmed. Many of the directors and volunteers are multi-generational, growing up with the fair their families helped keep going. She said a lot of the fairgoers span the generations, adults who came here as kids now bringing their own.

She said the 2023 fair has several new vendors. Bingo returns this year, with proceeds benefitting the GDS scholarship fund.

There are more livestock animals to see this year, she said. These include cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs in the barn. There are also rabbits, although a statewide avian influenza outbreak has prevented the showing of birds.

View the livestock in the barn at the 106th GDS Fair, Newfoundland, Aug. 25 - Sept. 3, 2023.
View the livestock in the barn at the 106th GDS Fair, Newfoundland, Aug. 25 - Sept. 3, 2023.

Coming for the first time are the New York Tractor Pullers, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.) "They are very popular," Fox said; they were scheduled last year but weather did not cooperate.

Musical performances are planned by the Honky Tonk Twins, Chris Eckert, Luongo Brothers Band, Kartune band, The Old Time Fiddlers, Glen Miller the Big One Man Band, The Tommy Guns Band, and marching bands from Wallenpaupack and Western Wayne high schools.

Wednesday's GDS Firefighter Competition in the arena at 6 p.m. brings friendly matches between area volunteer fire departments. Firefighters show off their teamwork, skills, and competitive edge. Events include gear donning, firefighter relay race, priming water speed race, commanding a hose blindfolded and a tug-of-war with water.

Contests are famous at the GDS Fair. The tradition continues; a few of the major ones include the fair royalty pageant, decorated bowling pin contest, scarecrow contest, baby and youth pageant, antique tractor pull, farm tractor pull, essay contest (If I were a farmer...), kids' pedal pull, pie eating contest and turkey calling contest.

Ticket prices are $10 or $8 depending on the day, which includes unlimited rides and parking. Most arena events are free. The two events with $10 extra charges are the New York Tractor Pullers and the demolition derbies.

There are also special discounts on certain days for the military, senior citizens (age 65+), teachers and farmers who are Farm Bureau members. ID is required in each class. These prices do not include rides.

Teachers Appreciation Day seems especially appropriate for this fair, held around the time school resumes and adjacent to the Wallenpaupack South Elementary School — which is of no coincidence. The GDS Fair was started in 1917 as a school project by Miss Ella Nevin, teacher at the old Damascus School on the same site as the current school.

Garden tractors race at arena at the 2021 GDS Fair. The full schedule for the 106th GDS Fair, Aug. 25-Sept. 3, 2023, in Newfoundland, is available at gdsfair.com.
Garden tractors race at arena at the 2021 GDS Fair. The full schedule for the 106th GDS Fair, Aug. 25-Sept. 3, 2023, in Newfoundland, is available at gdsfair.com.

Here is a roundup of the fair schedule, as of Aug. 21. For updates, visit the GDS Fair website: gdsfair.org.

EP= Entertainment Pavillon; ET= Entertainment Stage.

Friday, Aug. 25

Admission $10. Gates open 4 p.m., rides start 5 p.m.

  • 5 - 9 p.m. Car Show (Arena)

  • 5:30 p.m. Honky Tonk Twins (EP)

  • 6 - 9 p.m. Touch-a-Truck (Arena)

  • 7 p.m. Opening Ceremony (EP)

  • 7:30 p.m. Honky Tonk Twins (EP).

  • ALSO: First Bite Fishing Tanks (Come Catch a Fish); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations)

Saturday, Aug. 26

Admission $10. Gates open 11 a.m.; rides start 12 p.m.

  • 11 a.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 12 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • 1 p.m. Glenn Miller (EP)

  • Youth & Open Dairy Show (Barn)

  • 2 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 3 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • Glenn Miller (EP)

  • 3:30 p.m. Kids Pedal Pull (Flagpole)

  • 4:30 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 5:30 p.m. Honky Tonk Twins (EP)

  • 7 p.m. Demolition Derby (Arena) - $10 extra charge

  • 7:30 p.m. Honky Tonk Twins (EP)

  • Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (Rolling around the grounds)

  • The Magical Mr. C (Strolling)

  • ALSO: Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); First Bite Fishing Tanks (Come Catch a Fish)

Sunday, Aug. 27

Admission $10; Senior Citizen Day $5. Gates open 11 a.m.; rides start 12 p.m.

  • 11 a.m. Garden Tractor Pull (Arena)   Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 12 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • Andrew Lobby (EP)

  • 1 p.m. Youth & Open Swine Show (Barn)

  • Andrew Lobby (EP)

  • 1:30 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 2 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 3 p.m. Andrew Lobby (EP)

  • Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • 3:30 p.m. Kids Pedal Pull (Flagpole)

  • 4 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 4:30 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • ALSO: Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (Rolling around the grounds); The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Kevin Treat, The Sawptician (Chainsaw Carver Demonstrations); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); First Bite Fishing Tanks (Come Catch a Fish).

Monday, Aug. 28

Admission $8; Military Appreciation Day $4. Gates open 2 p.m.; rides start 3 p.m.

  • 2 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 4 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 5 p.m. Youth & Open Sheep Show (Barn)

  • 5:30 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 6 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 7 p.m. The Tommy Guns Band (EP)

  • Compact Truck Pull (Arena)

  • 8 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • ALSO: The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Kevin Treat, The Sawptician (Chainsaw Carver Demonstrations); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); First Bite Fishing Tanks (Come Catch a Fish)

Among the many returning acts at the GDS Fair this year are Cowboy Larry and Brave Beth. The fair in Newfoundland is set Aug. 25- Sept. 3, 2023.
Among the many returning acts at the GDS Fair this year are Cowboy Larry and Brave Beth. The fair in Newfoundland is set Aug. 25- Sept. 3, 2023.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

Admission $8; Farmer Appreciation Day 7. Gates open 2 p.m.; rides start 3 p.m.

  • 2 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 4 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 5 p.m. Youth & Open Beef Show (Barn)

  • 5:30 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 6 p.m. NY Tractor Pullers Assoc (Arena) *$10 extra charge*

  • Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 7 p.m. Sage Clearing Band (EP)

  • Wallenpaupack Area Marching Band (School Parking Lot)

  • ALSO: The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Kevin Treat, The Sawptician (Chainsaw Carver Demonstrations); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); First Bite Fishing Tanks (Come Catch a Fish)

Wednesday, Aug. 30

Admission $8; Senior Citizen Day $4. Gates open 2 p.m.; rides start 3 p.m.

  • 2 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 3 p.m. BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • 4 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 4 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 5 p.m. Youth & Open Goat Show (Barn)

  • 5:30 p.m. Balloons the Clown (EP)

  • 6 p.m. GDS Firefighter Competition (Arena)

  • Chris Eckert (ET)

  • BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • 7 p.m. The Sidekick Band (EP)

  • The Old Time Fiddlers (ET)

  • Western Wayne HS Marching Band (School Parking Lot)

  • ALSO: The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); First Bite Fishing Tanks (Come Catch a Fish); The Dinosaur Zoo

Thursday, Aug. 31

Admission $8; Teacher Appreciation Day $7. Gates open 2 p.m.; rides starts 3 p.m.

  • 2 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 3 p.m. BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • 4 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 5 p.m. Farm Animal Dress-Up Contest for livestock exhibitors only (Barn)

  • Pie Eating Contest (Information Booth)

  • 5:30 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 6 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET) BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • 6 p.m. Essay Contest (ET)

  • 7 p.m. Diesel Truck Pull (Arena)

  • Electric Rewind (EP)

  • Essay Contest Ceremony (ET)

  • 8 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • ALSO: The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); The Dinosaur Zoo

Friday, Sept. 1

Admission $10. Gates open 11 a.m.; rides start 12 p.m.

  • 12 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 1 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 2 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 3 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 4 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 5 p.m. Cow Milking Contest (Barn)

  • Ice Cream Sundae Giveaway (Barn)

  • 6 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • 7 p.m. Kartune (EP)

  • Antique Tractor Pull (Arena)

  • ALSO: The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); The Dinosaur Zoo

Saturday, Sept. 2

Admission $10. Gats open 11 a.m.; rides start 12 p.m.

  • 11 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 12 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • 1 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • GDS Junior Livestock Auction (Barn)

  • Baby & Youth Pageant REGISTRATION (EP)

  • 2 p.m. Baby & Youth Pageant (EP)

  • 3 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • 4 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 4:30 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 5 p.m. Mark Davis Memorial Youth Turkey Calling Contest (ET)

  • 6 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET) BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • 7 p.m. Demolition Derby (Arena) - $10 extra charge

  • Kevin McIntyre (EP)

  • ALSO: Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (Rolling around the grounds);  The Magical Mr. C (Strolling); Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); The Dinosaur Zoo

Sunday, Sept. 3

Admission $10. Gates open 11 a.m.; rides start 12 p.m.

  • 11 a.m. Farm Tractor Pull (Arena)

  • Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 12 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • 2:30 p.m. Frog Jumping Contest (EP)

  • 3 p.m. Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (ET)

  • 3:30 p.m. Kids Pedal Pull (Flagpole)

  • 4 p.m. Damian the Magician (EP)

  • 4:30 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • 5 p.m. Farm Crop Auction (Information Booth)

  • The Lost Ramblers (EP)

  • 6 p.m. Chris Eckert (ET)

  • BINGO (Smith Hall) benefits the GDS Fair Scholarship Fund

  • ALSO: Cowboy Larry & Brave Beth (Rolling around the grounds); The Lost Ramblers (Strolling); The Magical Mr. C (Strolling);  Paul Janusz (Blacksmith Demonstrations); The Dinosaur Zoo.

The GDS fairgrounds are behind Wallenpaupack South Elementary School at 989 Main St. (Route 191/507), Newfoundland. Free parking is across the street in Carlton Drake Memorial Park.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Greene-Dreher-Sterling Fair starts Friday in Newfoundland