Month: August 2019

 

HAMBURG, NEW YORK – The all-time attendance record for the Erie County Fair was shattered as the “Best 12 Days of Summer” in Western New York State concluded Sunday night. Final 2019 attendance is 1,238,456. This number represents a 3.3% increase from 2018 and makes 2019’s number the highest attended Fair in the history of the Erie County Agricultural Society. The previous all-time record was achieved in 2014 (1,220,101).

 

 

Record breaking attendance numbers are just one of the benchmarks used to measure the success of the annual Fair. With 52,968 pounds of canned food items collected, the Fair’s Opening Day food drive to benefit FeedMore WNY was the largest one-day drive in the Fair’s history and ranks as Western New York’s largest food drive taking place during the summer. Other numbers include:

 

1,238,456 Total attendance of the 180^th Erie County Fair (New All-Time)

 

289,980.50 Combined gross sales of all Fair market animal auctions

 

52,968 Pounds of canned goods collected to benefit FeedMore WNY

 

17,000 Dollars raised by the National Independent Concessionaires  Association and given to four 4-H children during the youth steer auction

 

10,159 Number of competitive exhibits entries including 4-H entries

 

5,404 Number of scheduled volunteer hours by Friends of the Fair

 

3,035 Number of livestock at the Fair (excluding Horse Show & 4-H)

 

2,600 Pounds of meat from livestock auctions donated to FeedMore WNY from dollars raise by the National Independent Concessionaires Association

 

857 Miles traveled in 12 days by model trains in the Grange Bldg.

 

541 Number of free grounds act performances during 12 days of Fair

 

503 Menu items available at Fair

 

179 Number of Friends of the Fair Volunteers/Coordinators

 

167 Number of rides, games & concessions on the Strates Shows Midway

 

113 Number of local bands and community performance acts during the Fair

 

95 Number of years with the James E. Strates Shows

 

86 Members of the Erie County Fair Marching Band presented by Pepsi

 

72 Cooking demonstrations held inside the Fair’s Culinary Arts Center

 

12 The Best Days of Summer in Western New York State

 

Highlights of the 180^th Erie County Fair include sold out and recording breaking attendance for a number of concerts at the Gusto Grandstand, an expanded I-Hub Pavilion featuring STEM related activities and displays, new dairy, viticulture and maple sugar exhibits in the Agriculture Discovery Center and the return of the famous Sky Wheel to the midway.

 

During the first weekend of the Fair, the James E. Strates Shows announced that it had broken the all-time, single day gross revenue record at the Erie County Fair on Saturday, August 10^th. This single day milestone was just one day of a record-breaking carnival run as the Strates Shows celebrates its 95^th year providing the amusements at the Erie County Fair.

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society would like to thank Western New York for its continued support of the Erie County Fair.

 

About the Erie County Fair

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York.  The 181^th Erie County Fair will take place August 12-23, 2020. (www.ECFair.org)

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The James E. Strates Shows announced today that it has reached an all-time, single day gross revenue record at the Erie County Fair on Saturday, August 10^th. This single day milestone was just one day of a record-breaking opening weekend in Hamburg, New York as the Strates Shows celebrates its 95^th year providing the amusements at the Erie County Fair. Gross revenues for the Strates Shows midway are trending 25% over 2018 number.

 

“This past weekend we recorded three, all-time high ridership days. Since 1924, when my grandfather James E. Strates first brought his show to the Erie County Fair, the show has never had a three-day run like the one we just experienced.” said John Strates, Strates Shows Operations Manager. “To say we had the biggest day in our history during our 95^th year makes the milestone even more special.”

 

During the 180^th Erie County Fair, the Strates Shows “mile long” midway includes 67 rides and over 100 games & concessions. The show is highlighted by the return of the beloved “Sky Wheel” (double Ferris wheel) and the addition of several spectacular rides including the “Claw,” “Frisbee,” the “Avenger,” and the “Crazy Mouse” rollercoaster. These rides join traditional Strates amusements that include the “Big Wheel,” the two-story carousel and Huss manufactured “Pirate.”

 

In addition to new rides, the Strates Shows debuted a new “guest relations” booth located on the midway with the goal of increase customer service satisfaction.

 

The exclusive, 95-year relationship between the Erie County Fair and the Strates Shows is considered a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry as it is considered the longest continuous run of any carnival midway in the United States.

 

About the Strates Shows – The Strates Shows is a 96-year-old family owned business with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 1923 by Greek immigrant James E. Strates as the Southern Tier Shows in Elmira, New York, the Strates Shows is considered one of America’s premiere providers of carnival midways. After the death of James E. Strates in 1959, his only son E. James Strates, took over as manager of the company and is still actively involved in its operation. Now in its 9th decade, the Strates Shows are led by the 3rd generation of Strates family members including Susan, Jimmy, Sibyl, Jay and John. Nick Strates, who officially joined the show full-time during the 2015 season, is the 4th generation of the Strates family to continue the tradition.   Over the decades, the Strates Shows has brought many innovations to the carnival industry, including cooperative promotions, a centralized ticket system, advance ticket sales, and, most recently, the FunCard electronic ticketing system that utilizes bar codes to control access to carnival rides on the midway.

 

About the Erie County Fair – The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York. The 2019 Erie County Fair concludes on August 18^th (www.ECFair.org).