Presque Isle County fair continues to evolve, says official

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

Presque Isle County Fair officials believe the Labor Day weekend event went well this year in Millersburg.

“This is the second year of what we think is a three to five year re-invention process,” said Rachel Goodstein, fair spokeswoman.

CHILDREN ENJOYED feeding the many animals at the 2013 county fair in Millersburg. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

 

This year, the fair was Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There were mud bogs, parades, tractor pulls, animals, music and demonstrations during the duration of the weekend for people to enjoy. Last year, was the first fair with the combined activities of the Fieldstock and the Millersburg Homecoming.

“Last year, the fair was not open on Sunday,” said Goodstein. “So, we are working out how to run the fair with the bump and run. That was the first time this year.”

She said the food vendors were pleased and the petting zoo was successful.

“Of course the bump and run, the mud bog and the music festival draw people,” said Goodstein. “We had more entries than we did the year before.”

Goodstein received feedback that some would like the workshops to be conducted earlier in the year. “Even as early as February, so they can

take the information into account and decide what to plant.

“Our goal is to have the county fair be a showcase of what is produced.”

The fair board is meeting this week to discuss attendance figures, which are based on the number of vehicles that enter through the Walker Highway gate.

“I think we were averaging 250 to 300 cars per day,” said Goodstein. “We are one of the more moderately priced forms of entertainment.” They also collected a fair amount of food for the food pantries.

“We will have five or six boxes of canned goods to split up between the two food banks.”

Goodstein added, “We are all pretty happy at how it has evolved.”