Upstater Destinations: Ulster County Fair

  |  August 1, 2013
ulster county fair

Ulster County Fair, 2008

There are some great aspects of living in the country that everyone, no matter where they come from, should engage in at least once in their lives: Exploring nature and finding peace, visiting unique local businesses, swimming in a cold creek on a hot summer’s day, and hitting the county fair when it comes to town. There’s just something about wandering around the fairgrounds drinking a giant lemonade or nibbling on some fried dough, people watching, cooing over the baby farm animals that’s actively enjoyable, even if it feels like you’re not doing much. If you’re hankering for some country fun, there’s still time to check out the Ulster County Fair, which runs at the fairgrounds in New Paltz out on Libertyville Road until August 4th.

Our favorite time to head to the fair is at night. The heat of the day has passed, and we no longer have to worry about our lily-white flesh bursting into flame at the mere hint of direct sunlight. Plus, the bright lights of the rides and booths create an ethereal glow that fun to photograph if you’re into that sort of thing. The crowds start to thin a little bit, and if you’re lucky, you might catch one of the headliners performing on stage. No need to pay extra for tickets; performances are included with the $15 price of admission. Maybe they’re good and maybe they’re…well, you be the judge. If you prefer to come during the day with the kids, prepare to pay $15 for everyone in your family, since there are no discounts for children. Tonight (Thursday), however, is free admission for seniors between 10am and 4pm. Rides are also included with the admission price.

True to county fair form, scheduled events include things involving chain saws, truck pulling, and pig racing (hopefully not at the same time), and you can find each day’s schedule of events and activities on the Ulster County Fair daily fair schedule page on their website. Parking is free, but plan on walking a while from your car to the fairgrounds. As with everything else, it’s all part of the tradition.

county fair capture

About Kandy Harris

Kandy is a writer and musician/music teacher living in Saugerties, NY.

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