The 121st Cambria County Fair will be a great way to end the summer when it welcomes visitors Sept. 2-8 at the fairgrounds in Ebensburg.
Cambria and all adjacent county fairs give guests a chance to see farm equipment and animal displays and enjoy musical entertainment, rides, food and demolition derbies. And it can all be had for a reasonable price despite state funding cuts that most fairs have been working to overcome.
Patricia Fenchak, fair manager for the Cambria County American Legion Recreation Association Inc., which owns and operates the fair, said fair superintendents are working hard to get sponsorships to increase premiums paid to livestock winners.
“We are trying to get them back to the level they were prior to 2009,” Fenchak said.
“After our state funding cuts, premiums dropped as much as one-third to one-half what they used to be, depending on the animal.”
Fenchak said higher premiums are essential to keep exhibitors coming.
“We also saw a modest drop of participants when we charged a $2.50 entrance fee for agricultural displays, but that price covered an unlimited number of entries,” Fenchak said.
Despite the financial hurdles, fairs are the ideal place for families looking for wholesome entertainment.
Cambria County officials are taking an aggressive approach.
The lineup includes big-name country acts to draw people to the grandstands.
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives will take the stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 2.
At 7 p.m. Sept. 3, country music sensation Jason Michael Carroll will be on the grandstand stage.
“Earlier that day, we will have The Martins, a gospel group, appear at 3 p.m.,” Fenchak said.
She admitted that last year, local talent could not fill the grandstands.
“Our local entertainers are talented and they had loyal fans, but it wasn’t enough to fill the seats,” Fenchak said.
“We are taking a gamble to get bigger name acts to bring in the people.”
Fair organizers have been able to retain the $8 one-price ticket, which includes grandstand shows, midway, parking, rides, livestock barns, agriculture and annex buildings.
“An all-inclusive ticket will be offered for $5 during High School Band Night, which will be on Sept. 4,” Fenchak said.
“Also new this year will be Nojoe’s Clown Circus.”
The attraction features three full rings of fun for the entire family – clowns, showgirls and acrobats.
There also is plenty of competitions for visitors, including livestock entries and shows, antique tractor entries and tractor parade, demolition derbies, truck pulls and farm and garden equipment entries.
Ribbons are awarded for baking, canning, sewing, quilts, afghans, arts and crafts, photography and fruits and vegetables.
No fair is complete without traditional foods such as cotton candy, candy apples, fudge, apple dumplings, fried dough and a host of other meals and sandwiches.
The fairgrounds are located on old Route 219, a half mile north of Ebensburg.
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