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Thank you, dear, says a baby deer John-Paul Lamoreaux once fed at a fair.
Artists such as Ralf Kaufman like to sell original works.
Michele Keiper and her father, Ray Wandel, made one mean scarecrow once in hopes of pulling down the grand prize in a creativity contest.
times leader file photos
The artistic talent of students usually gets a good showcase at the county fair.
Steve Van Kuren washes Payden, Woods and Cabernet to make them look all spiffy for last year’s fair.
Times Leader file photo
Alyssa Alfano got to take a hog for a spin at a previous Luzerne County Fair.
Times leader file photo
So, how’s your pitching arm?
If you’re all about power, maybe you’d like to show your friends just how far you can heave a bale of hay.
If dexterity is your strong point, maybe you’d rather take part in the egg toss.
And, if you don’t like to throw things, there’s a wheelbarrow race you can enter.
Those contests, designed for ages 18 and younger, are part of the Barnyard Olympics at the Luzerne County Fair, where they represent just a tiny sample of the festivities.
Really, those Olympics – set for 3 p.m. Sept. 13 — are like one bite from a deep-dish apple pie or one stitch in a king-size crazy quilt. The five-day fair starts Wednesday, with so many things to do, see and hear, from rock ’n’ roll bands and polka music to amusement rides and farm animals, you’re almost guaranteed to find something you’ll like.
“The reason I do this is to see all the smiles,” said fair spokeswoman Brenda Pugh, who has been involved as a Luzerne County Fair volunteer for 25 years.
One aspect sure to please thrifty fair-goers, Pugh said, is that the $8 admission price ($4.50 for seniors; free for tykes younger than 2) entitles people to hear the bands and ride the carnival rides. There are no extra fees.
Fair organizers chose this year’s bands with an eye toward creating a full menu of musical styles.
M80 will cover hits from the 1980s during two shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 3rd Degree will present rock ’n’ roll from the 1950s until today at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Sug’r Bear will serve up country music at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday.
Then you might as well call Sept. 12 “tribute day,” because Bat out of Hell will pay tribute to Meatloaf at 3 p.m., a Tom Jones tribute artist will sing the songs of that 1970s heartthrob at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and an Elvis tribute artist will render the songs of “the King” at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
On Sept. 13, the final day of the fair, The Star Fires with Eddie Day will play music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.
“We try to stay with as much local talent as possible,” Pugh said, adding that these regional bands are proven winners with local crowds.
Speaking of crowds, last year’s fair attracted 20,000, even though at least one of the days was fairly rainy. This year’s crowd of fair-goers could well be larger.
Among the special events they’ll see are a dog-agility contest at 6 p.m. Thursday, a 4-H horse show at 6 p.m. Friday, English-style riders guiding their horses over fences in a jumping competition at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 and – for those who prefer riding machines – a tractor obstacle course at 5 p.m. Sept. 13.
The fair will give city slickers a chance to see cows and horses, goats and pigs, which they ordinarily might not encounter. Rest assured there will be a plethora of refreshments to buy. And there will even be a “Scare At The Fair” haunted house, a preview of the Broken Hearts Asylum that will be on the fairgrounds in October.
Then there are the exhibits, where you can inspect your neighbors’ skills at growing a gloriosa daisy or baking chocolate chip cookies or, perhaps, painting a watercolor or stitching a well-crafted apron.
The categories are quite specific. For example, instead of a general “mint” category, there are separate contests for homegrown peppermint and spearmint. An angel-food cake would not be competing against a butter cake. If you painted a picture of a seascape, that wouldn’t compete against a still life or animal portrait but against other watery scenes.
The time to submit your handiwork – whether it’s artsy, craftsy, or from the kitchen – is fast approaching. Non-perishable items will be accepted from 3 to 8 p.m. today and Sunday.
Perishable items such as fruit, hay, grain and baked goods have a later time of 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
IF YOU GO
HIGHLIGHTS
What: 2009 Luzerne County Fair
When: Wednesday through Sept. 13
Where: Luzerne County Fairgrounds, off Route 118, Dallas
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 13.
More info: www.luzernecountyfair.com or 675-FAIR.
$2,500 Mini-Prix Horse-jumping competition: 7 p.m. Sept. 12
Barnyard Olympics: 3 p.m. Sept. 13
Tractor Obstacle Race: 5 p.m. Sept. 13
Fireworks finale: 9 p.m. Sept. 13