Otisville Country Fair offers old-fashioned fun

Thursday August 23, 2012 1:00 PM By Georgette Yacoub

Photo credit: Handout | The Otisville Country Fair in Otisville.

Gear up for four days of old-fashioned fun at the Otisville Country Fair, a family-friendly celebration for the Orange County community. Over the course of the weekend, there will be plenty of free entertainment and events that will surely add up to a good time.

Twenty-four years ago, Otisville resident Dave Budd got the idea to start a country fair to get the community together. “It was a small event, with no more than 10 vendors,” said Jim Jennings, Budd’s son-in-law and fair co-chairman. “It’s grown a lot since then.”

Over the four days, 40,000 people and 50 vendors are expected to attend the festivities. And there will be plenty to do, including live music every night and a fireworks display on Saturday and Sunday.

Other fun events offered at the fair will be a pie eating contest, magic show, martial arts demo and car show. Visitors can also get their thrills from the amusement rides, but according to Jennings, the most popular attraction is Sunday’s tractor pull.

“We are a country fair, so people come to see that,” Jennings said.

No fair would be complete without good eats, and all the standards will make an appearance this weekend, including gyros, Philly cheese steaks, fried dough, fried Oreos and other fried goodies. At the mashed potato bar, visitors can top their starches with gravy, sour cream, bacon bits, cheese, and whatever else their heart desires.

This year, Budd is handing his responsibilities to co-chairpersons Jim Jennings and Sue Marshall. Luckily, they are picking up right where he left off.

“We took over because we didn’t want the fair to fold,” said Marshall. “We didn’t want to see it get taken over and become more commercial.” 

IF YOU GO

What: Otisville Country Fair

Where: 340 Finchville Tpke., Otisville

When: Aug. 23-26

Info: Free admission, $3 for parking on fairgrounds; 845-386-1315; otisvillecountryfair.org

Photo: A scene from a past Otisville Country Fair

Tags: Otisville , Orange County , Otisville Country Fair