The 2009 Schoharie County Sunshine Fair will start sooner, run longer, and feature a midway that’s played state fairs.
And that’s just for starters.
Fair President Doug Cater made the announcement at the Cobleskill Agricultural Society’s annual meeting Saturday.
Slated for July 31-August 8, the 2009 Fair will span two weekends, and that alone will give directors opportunities they’ve never had before, Mr. Cater said.
“A lot of the bigger performers, they won’t go anywhere for shows less than nine days,” he explained.
“With a longer run, that opens up a lot more doors. It will also allow us to expand things like the horse shows, livestock shows…everything.”
In 2009, the Fair will also switch from the Gillette Midway to Powers’ Great American Midways, which runs as many as 115 rides—though Mr. Cater said there won’t be room for even half that in Cobleskill.
“The opportunity for Powers came along at the right time,” he said. “In order to keep the Fair strong, we need to keep growing. Frankly, I never thought they’d be available when I first approached them.”
Powers just finished up at the North Carolina State Fair, Mr. Cater said; the midway will be set up much like a theme park with a giant arch welcoming carnival-goers.
“It’s almost like Disneyland,” he said. “It’s very, very impressive.”
Though a nine-day Fair might seem a little ambitious, timing is everything.
With two weekends on the calendar, Mr. Cater said, they won’t feel the pinch so much if the weather rains out one day—like happened this year on Friday.
Two weekends also allows people who stop by on the first Saturday and Sunday to spread the word in time for others to go to Fair on the second.
Plus, the dates of the 2009 Fair will coincide with Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame Inductions, something directors are hoping will help draw people to Cobleskill.
“We’re the talk of the fair business already,” Mr. Cater said.
All of this will generate more income—which is something we’re already struggling with. It’s very expensive to keep our buildings in shape and this should help. It’s an opportunity that may never come again.”
With all of that more than a year off, however, there are other changes in store for the ’08 Fair.
There will be no charge for parking and children under 12 will get in free; adult admissions will increase to $12, what most other fairs charge, Mr. Cater said.
“Overall, it’ll cost less for a family of four than it did before,” he said.
The Gillette Midway will be back for a final year, but the Royal Hanneford Circus will be replaced with a smaller circus with all animal acts.
Directors have also booked a high-dive comedy show that performs 80 feet in the air, the “Dueling Pirates,” that takes five days to set up.
The Refrigerators, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash tributes, and the Fair’s Idol Show are also expected to be back as well.
Weather permitting work on the Fairgrounds and buildings continues year-round.
Right now, improvements to the Fruit & Vegetable Building are in the works and directors have received planners’ okay to build a covered arena in the track infield.
Dates for the 2008 Fair are August 5-10.