News

July 4, 2008

Northeast Fair attendance was largest ever

More than 35,000 attended Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Dept.’s weeklong fundraiser.

SHERRY LONG slong@timesleader.com

PITTSTON TWP. – Attendance at this year’s Northeast Fair was the largest in the fair’s six-year history, said Joe Pupa, vice president of the board that runs the festival.

A record number of more than 35,000 people attended the event that ran June 24-29, an increase of about 22 percent over last year’s attendance of 27,115, according to the state Department of Agriculture figures.

The fair broke attendance records by having the “best Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights in history,” Pupa said.

Leaders expected an attendance of 26,000 for this year’s fair, which showcases agriculture, horticulture, home arts, home garden, entertainment and food.

The fair is sponsored by the Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department and serves as the organization’s largest fundraiser, providing 60 to 70 percent of the department’s funding, fair board President Joe Aliciene said.

“It was nice to see so many fairgoers having an enjoyable time,” he said. “The overall satisfaction of the entire board witnessing this event turn the corner after years of extremely hard work and dedication is difficult to put into words.”

Pupa believes last week’s relatively nice weather worked in the fair’s favor, as people flocked to the 40-acre complex to enjoy the 23 midway rides, great festival food and musical entertainment. He said some rain fell, but it was less than in the past few years.

Rick Reithoffer, president of Reithoffer Shows, a family-owned midway supplier, said Northeast Fair is one of his more than 50 East Coast clients. He’s supplied rides for the fair since it began six years ago.

He said he and his father always believed the Northeast Fair would eventually blossom into a “powerhouse” fair because it is strategically placed in the northeast region and was the first major event in the area this summer.

“This year it took a giant jump ahead. We always thought we were just scratching the surface,” Reithoffer said

Exact figures for the total amount raised will not be known for about another month until all the outstanding bills are paid, Pupa said. Organizers rent portable restrooms, a concert stage, tents and the midway rides.

“There is a lot of expense because we don’t have our own infrastructure,” he said, adding the governing board makes improvements to the fairgrounds each year to reduce the amount of equipment rentals to properly run the six-day event.

Plans call for a permanent concert stage area, a horticulture building, an entertainment pavilion and another permanent restroom facility.

Next year’s Northeast Fair is scheduled for June 23-28.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.

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