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Community Corner

Guilford Fair Gates Open to Enthusiastic Crowd

Fair organizers happy as people stream through the gates eager to sample the food, enjoy the rides, take a chance on some games and peruse the exhibit tents.

 

Loaded down with prizes won on the midway, Jennifer and Michael Rigg stood with their children, 8-year-old Patrick and 5-year-old Cora, enjoying the food court at the Guilford Fair.

Almost an hour into their visit, everyone was happy and content. “Winning all the prizes” is Patrick’s favorite and glancing at the stuffed animals in dad’s arms and the blowup New York Yankees bat mom was clutching, Patrick’s visit was a good one. His sister, Cora, enthusiastically working away at her ice cream cone was also happy, indulging in her favorite thing at the fair!

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For fair organizers, who have worked for months and months to make this weekend a success, it is a thrill to see people stream through the gates eager to sample the food, enjoy the rides, take a chance on some games and peruse the exhibit tents.

“This year it’s been nice.  The weather’s nice and we’ve been getting a lot more people early on,” said Agricultural Society Director Janice Ward, hours after the gates opened. 

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Chairman of the Baking Department Laurie Skornia and Baking Judge Diane Richard, conferring over paperwork atop the cases holding homemade pies and cakes, were putting last minute ribbons on winning entries. While they were a bit behind in their work they attributed that partly to more entries than in years past.

“This is a great year,” said Skornia. “We think the entries are up. We’ve got new people. We’re seeing new names and that’s a good thing.”

Taking in all the sights and sounds of the Family Circus Area Agricultural Society Director Nancy Maturo summed up her feelings in one word. "Wonderful!"

Maturo, who has been volunteering at the Guilford Fair for about 35 years, sat in a golf court watching fair goers enjoy themselves.

“We work all year long for this," she said, before adding, "we’re blessed to have some nice weather coming up, too.”

For entertainer J.P. the Clown, a member of The Flying Wallendas, performing in front of the Guilford Fair crowd is “like coming back home again.”  J.P. has performing with the Wallendas at the Guilford Fair for eight years and has a soft spot his heart for this particular venue. 

“It’s like a home away from home,” he said. “It’s the place I look forward to the most on the entire tour. Guilford reminds me of the small town I grew up in.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 

What are the days and hours of the fair?

Friday, September 21         1 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Saturday, September 22     9 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, September 23       9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Where is parking?

Fairgrounds parking at Lovers Lane at Stonehouse Lane  $5.00

Free shuttle bus from I-95 Exit 57, 1571 Boston Post Road (follow signs)

Friday:  4:30 p.m – 10:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

What is the entrance fee?

Adults: $10.00

Senior Citizens: $8.00

Children 6-11:  $5.00

Children 5 and under: FREE

3-day discount pass: $25.00

Parking on site: $5.00

What are the wristbands and when will they be available?

For $22 fair goers can purchase a wristband Saturday and Sunday, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., for unlimited access to rides.

 

 

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