Erie County Fair

The Erie County Fair and Exposition, also known as "America's Fair", is a fair held in Hamburg, New York every August. It is the second largest fair in New York topped only by Great New York State Fair which is 110 acres larger, and the third largest county fair in the United States, often drawing over one million in attendance.

The first Erie County Fair was held in 1819, and was hosted by the Erie County Agricultural Society. The fair is currently the second longest operating fair in the United States.

It is also where the modern hamburger was invented, at the Erie County Fair, as its location (Hamburg), solves the riddle as to why there is no ham in hamburgers. However, this is disputed as a number of other claims have also been made as to the origin of the hamburger.

The 2007 fair ran from August 8-19 and was the 168th edition.

History

The Agricultural Society was established in 1819, then called the Niagara County Horticultural Society. It held its first fair in 1820 on what is now the site of the Donovan Office Building in Buffalo. One year later, Niagara County split into Erie and Niagara Counties, and so did the agricultural society. The Erie County Agricultural Society is the oldest civic, community member organization in Erie County.

After the 1821 Fair, the Society foundered due to the poor economy in the area and the difficulty of transporting livestock over nearly impassable roads. The Society was reborn in 1841 and again started holding its annual Fair. The Erie County Fair has been held every year since 1841 with the exception of 1943, which was canceled because of World War II.

After many years of being held in Buffalo, the Fair was moved throughout different locations in Aurora, Lancaster, East Hamburgh, (now Orchard Park) West Seneca, and Springville from 1851-1867. In 1868, the Society moved the Fair to its Hamburg location and has remained there ever-since.

The current location started as a 12 acre plot of land but over the years the site has grown to emcompass a full 265 acres. The length of the fair has also risen by a starting out as just a one day event which now has a half day preview night and 10 full days. The last day of the fair features a demolition derby produced by JM Productions. The most recent expansion came in 2004 when the midway was pushed back to allow a few more rides and to move Strates Shows mobile homes behind the midway.

In 2001 the Agricultural Society published the book Reflections of Americas's County Fair 1841-2000 covering the complete history of the fair including photos, interviews and information regarding the fair from its roots all the way to the year 2000.

While most fair workers at the fair are employed by the fair or vendors there is a group of dedicated volunteers who in 1988 started The Friends of the Fair Volunteer Program act as greeters, building staff (such as greeters and people who count how many people enter a building), and man information booths.

Starting in 2005 the fair started a rebranding effort to drop the words Erie County from the offical name, the fair is now know as America's Fair. This was done at the request of The County of Erie, as the fair receives no public money from the county.

Themes

Recent editions of the fair have followed a theme starting in the mid 90s to current

2007- Keeping The Dream Alive

2006- The magic continues

2005- Fairy Tales Can Come True

2004- Theres A Pary Goin' On

2003- A Slice of America

2002- Celebrate The Spirit of America

2001- It's Showtime

2000- It's A Musical Af-Fair- This theme also had an advertising jingle-- It's a musical affir, The summer's greatest happening is finally here. Fun and excitement for all to share, the feeling is magic, Erie County Fair.

1999- Miles of Smiles

1998- It's Out Of This World

1997- Makin' Tracks at the Fair

1996- We're Outstanding in Our Field

1995- There's Magic at the Fair

Annual days for free or reduced price admission

• Firefighters' Day- Firefighters and immediate family with valide firefighters id get in free. There are tents set up on the horsetrack infield for each fire company to get together meet and have a cookout, there is also a free parade which the firefighters can walk in.
• Veterans' Day- All members of the VFW or current servicemembers with valid id get in free. The tents are set up on the horsetrack infield for each VFW post to have members meet and have a cookout. A free parade featuring members marching is also held.
• Grandparents' Day- Kids 12 & under receive free admission with a paid grandparent.
• Student Day- Students pay just $5 admission all day! (Ages 13-22 with proper id)

Some Fair facts

The front of the fair having 2 wrought iron gates facing South Park Ave.

The fair has onsite parking for about 15,000 cars.

The fair is third largest county fair in the USA with an average attendance hovering around 1 million people.

86 permanent structures including a casino and horse racing track aptly named "Fairgrounds Gaming and Raceway".

Strates Shows has run the midway since 1924.

The only time in the history of the fair where the event was not held was 1943 during World War 2 due to rationing of supplies for the war effort.

The oldest buildings on grounds is the Octogon building which was originally built in 1885.

In 1994 the fair attempted to go for the world record of the World's Largest Country Line Dance, getting around 2700 dancers.

The Fair owns the only original San Francisco Cable Car operating outside those city limits.

External Links

• Erie County Fair website
• Friends of the Fair page
• Visitor Information from Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau