In 2007: In front of the funhouse at the fair: (clockwise from top left) Douglas Schultes, Debbie Schultes, Danyelle Barrett, Amanda Schultes and Robert Schultes. (Photos by Lauren Thomas)
Racing and swimming pigs in 2007.
The 2019 edition of the Ulster County Fair returns to the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz from July 30 to August 4 and opens with a bang: an entry discount of $50 for up to eight people on Carload Night, beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Seniors are admitted free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 1; otherwise, the pay-one-price admission of $17 per person covers all midway rides, shows and entertainment (not counting games).
The fairgrounds are open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. on Sunday. Rides open at 11 a.m.
Daily entertainment includes music, Robinson’s Racing Pigs, the Two by Two Petting Zoo, stiltwalker Carrie McQueen, Professor Chalmers Bodkin-Child’s Amazing Patent Medicine and Magic Show, the Butterfly Experience and chainsaw carver Josh Landry.
Wednesday evening ends with fireworks. There’s a garden tractor pull on Tuesday evening, a truck pull on Thursday evening and an antique tractor pull on Friday evening. Horse shows spotlight draft horses on Wednesday and Friday, ponies on Thursday, a Western gymkhana on Saturday and English dressage on Sunday.
Music acts include:
- Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.: 90 Proof
- Wednesday, 8 p.m.: Craig Morgan
- Thursday, 8 p.m.: Felice Brothers. (Formerly Confederate Railroad, cancelled following controversy.)
- Friday, 8 p.m.: Little Texas
- Saturday, 8 p.m.: Seth Cook
- Sunday, 5:30 p.m.: Fran Cosmo (formerly of the band Boston)
Other attractions include police dog drills, spinning and weaving demonstrations, all the usual competitions for farm animals, preserves and pies — not to mention the 4-H Club’s booth selling justly famous extra-thick milkshakes.
For full County Fair schedules and much more info, visit http://ulstercountyfair.com.
A strange looking form of aquatic kiddie entertainment in 2010.
2008: This nine-month-old joey named Pixie, is being held by Casey Ianucci.
On the Himalaya in 2017.
Fair souvenirs in 2010.
From 2017
Boycott The Ulster County Fair Support The Band Confederate Railroad The politicians will rue the day they took action against this band
I never thought the sleepy town I grew up in would be embroiled in a controversy of this nature.