The Erie County Fair has released its full Gusto Grandstand schedule for the 180^th Erie County Fair this August. Highlights of the lineup includes two free, “Throwback Thursday” concerts, an appearance by the “last of the hell drivers” Tonny Petersen and already announced mainstage shows including Kane Brown and Gabriel Iglesias.

 

“This is the most eclectic mix of acts and events that has ever been put together for the Gusto Grandstand,” said CEO & Fair Manager Jessica Underberg. “From top national touring comics to current chart toppers and five nights of free shows, our team worked extremely hard to find the best entertainers possible while all along trying to keep ticketed shows reasonably priced.”

 

Newly announced events include two free “throwback” concerts featuring classic rockers Foghat on Thursday, August 8^th at 8p and six-time country vocal group of the year and Grammy Award winners Diamond Rio on Thursday August 15^th at 8p. The PettyBreakers, the world’s foremost Tom Petty tribute experience will take to the stage on Friday, August 9^th for a free performance at 8:30p following the Firefighter’s Day Parade. FreestyleMX.com action will perform a free show on Tuesday, August 13^th.

 

The wildest and most spectacular summertime stunts, crashes and thrills return during the Fair’s motor event series. The “Last of the Hell Drivers” 81-year-old Tonny Petersen has been added to the bill of the Ultimate Night of Destruction on Saturday, August 17^th at 7p. Petersen descends from a long line of classic fair stunt drivers that includes Lucky Teter, Jack Kochman and Joey Chitwood. Petersen will be part of the night’s events that includes the ever-popular school bus demo spectacular and the compact car double figure 8 racing championship. The World’s Largest Demolition Derby, Sunday August 18^th, 1:00p & 6:00p will welcome more than 100 cars from across Western New York to the Fairgrounds to see who can outlast the rest.

 

NOTE: Tickets for all Motor Event Series shows go on sale Saturday, June 1^st at 10am and will be available for purchase at Tickets.com, by phone at 1-888-223-6000, or in person at the Fairgrounds Main Office until 1pm.

 

The complete 2019 Gusto Grandstand Schedule for the 180^th Erie County Fair, including already announced shows and artists:

 

Darci Lynne Farmer, who at just 12-years of age won NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” for her singing ventriloquism, will bring her all new Fresh Out of the Box Tour to the Gusto Grandstand at the Erie County Fair on Wednesday, August 7th at 7:30p. General admission tickets are $20; reserved track seats at $30/$38.

 

Rock and blues icons Foghat take a “Slow Ride” to the Erie County Fair with a performance on Thursday, August 8th at 8p. Owners of eight gold records, as well as one platinum and one double-platinum album, Foghat continues to tour the world, satisfying their longtime followers and making new fans along the way. “Slow Ride,” ”Fool For the City” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You” are among Foghat’s hits. The show is FREE with gate admission to the Fair. No Grandstand ticket is required for entry to the show.

 

Following the Firefighter’s Parade, The PettyBreakers (Tom Petty Tribute) will take stage on Friday, August 9^th at 8:30p. The PettyBreakers are the premier Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute act. Based out of Southern California, this band is comprised of veteran musicians with decades of experience performing in tribute acts, recording and performing with international bands. The show is FREE with gate admission to the Fair. No Grandstand ticket is required for entry to the show.

 

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians, will bring his “Beyond The Fluffy World Tour” to the 180th Erie County Fair’s Gusto Grandstand on Saturday, August 10th, 2019 at 8p.  General admission tickets at $28; reserved seats will be $55/$40.

 

One of ONLY three “masters” level races being held in the world during 2019, the Erie County Fair will host the North American Drone Masters Race on Sunday, August 11th at 7p. Pilots from around the world will compete for spots in the AI World Championship Grand Final in China. The show is FREE with gate admission to the Fair. No Grandstand ticket is required for entry to the show.

 

Rising country artist Kane Brown will take to the stage on Monday, August 12th, 2019 at 8p. As one of country music’s most compelling rising stars, Brown’s latest album, Experiment, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart during the fall of 2018. With that honor, Brown joined Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean as the only country artists to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The singer is also the first male country artist to debut at the top with a sophomore release in 24 years. The last artist to equal that feat was Tim McGraw in 1994. Only general admission tickets remain; priced at $55.

 

FreestyleMX.com brings its freestyle motocross riders to the Erie County Fair on Tuesday, August 13^th at 7p. The show will feature some of the best tricks and whips of the sport of freestyle motocross including Superman seat grabs and cliff hangers. The show is FREE with gate admission to the Fair. No Grandstand ticket is required for entry to the show.

 

An ensemble lineup of legendary pop music superstars from the 60s & 70s return to the Erie County Fair’s Gusto Grandstand in 2019. The Happy Together Tour will take to the stage on Wednesday, August 14th at 7:30p. This year’s lineup features The Turtles, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Buckinghams, The Classics IV and The Cowsills. Preferred track seats at $35, reserved track seats at $30 and general admission tickets are $25.

 

Thursday August 15^th at 8p will be “country” throwback night with the legendary Diamond Rio. Formed in 1989 in Nashville, TN the band has sold more than 10 million albums, won a Grammy Award, a Dove Award and six Vocal Group of the Year wins (CMA and ACM). Diamond Rio’s hits include ‘How Your Love Makes Me Feel,’ ‘One More Day,’ ‘Beautiful Mess,’ ‘Unbelievable,’ ‘In A Week or Two,’ and many more. The show is FREE with gate admission to the Fair. No Grandstand ticket is required for entry to the show.

 

The Australian Pink Floyd Show, the leading Pink Floyd show in the world, performs on Friday, August 16th at 8p. Striving to reproduce the Pink Floyd experience and bring the music to new audiences, the show includes a stunning light and laser show, video animations, filmed sequences on a large LED screen and other special effects. Tickets start at $28 for general admission and $40/$55 for reserved seating

 

Ultimate Night of Destruction, Saturday, August 17, 7p. – An evening of family fun with free admission for children 12 and under to the Gusto Grandstand! The 2019 Ultimate Night of Destruction will feature the full size and small School Bus Demo Spectacular, the Compact Car Double Figure 8 Racing Championship and a special appearance by the “Last of the Hell Drivers” 81-year-old motorsport legend Tonny Petersen. Produced by JM Motorsport Productions. Tickets are $18; Kids 12 and under are free with paid adult ticket.

 

World’s Largest Demolition Derby, August 18, 1:00p & 6:00p, Tickets: $22 – This annual event welcomes more than 100 cars from across Western New York to the Fairgrounds to see who can outlast the rest. Cars must navigate the track to keep damage to a minimum if they are to win the heat and make it into the finals. Prior to each heat, cars are judged by the crowd as to who has the wildest and wackiest decorations. Produced by JM Motorsport Productions.

 

Tickets for paid shows are available at Tickets.com, by phone at 1-888-223-6000, or in person at the Fairgrounds Main Office. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00a-4:30p. Tickets purchased prior to the day of the show include admission to the Erie County Fair on the day of the performance.

 

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 180th Erie County Fair will be held August 7th – 18th, 2019. (www.ECFair.org)

 

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The Erie County Agricultural Society and No Limit FPV have reached an agreement with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and MultiGP to hold the first ever North American Drone Masters on August 10 & 11, 2019. The drone masters will take place during the Erie County Fair inside the Gusto Grandstand and will be a free event with paid admission to the Erie County Fair. The event is sponsored in part by T-Mobile.

 

“Since the 1840s, the need for speed has been part of the Erie County Fair experience,” said  Fair Marketing Manager Marty Biniasz. “In the 1800s, it was harness racing that entertained fairgoers with days filled with trotters and pacers. Starting in the 1920s the roar of gasoline powered engines filled the Grandstand as auto racing attracted tens of thousands to the ‘Hamburg Oval.’  Today, the need for speed has returned to the Fairgrounds with the North American Drone Masters.”

 

This FAI sanctioned race will be the first ever “masters” level drone competition to be held in the region and is part of the 2019 Masters Series of drone races. As a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) sanctioned event, this exclusive race is expected to attract drone teams from across the world. This prestigious, world-class event will be one of only three “masters” level races being held in the world during 2019. Other races will be held in Barcelona, Spain and Seoul, South Korea. In addition to $10,000 in purse money, the top 3 pilots from the races held at the Erie County Fair will gain a spot at the 2019 FAI World Championship Grand Final in China held at the end of November.

 

“This is the future of high tech, motorized spectator sports,” said Erie County Fair Manager and CEO Jessica Underberg. “Staging an event of this class and complexity has yet to be accomplished in the fair industry. With the inaugural North American Drone Masters, we take great pride in being innovators in technology infused, drone-based entertainment.”

 

The racecourse track, to be constructed in-front of the Grandstand seating, is being designed to included tight, hairpin curves and straightaways that will facilitate speeds of up to 80 mph. The track will be contained behind safety nets designed to keep drones in and spectators at a safe distance. Pilots flying will be staged in front of the spectators with live video feeds from each of their drones so the crowd may follow along and experience the race with them. The excitement of the race will include commentary by Joe Scully, a globally known announcer of drone races and rodeos.

 

The North American Drone Masters will be held over two days with qualifying heats taking place between 11a – 5p inside the Fair’s infield area on Saturday, August 10^th and the grand finals scheduled for Sunday, August 11^th at 7pm in the Gusto Grandstand.

 

Fairgoers looking to learn more about drones and the thrill of flying a model airplane will be able to explore the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ simulation simulator. The display will be located at Fair’s I-Hub “STEM technology” center August 7-9^th.

 

ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN DRONE MASTERS PARTNERS

 

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA): World’s largest model aviation association, representing a membership of more than 195,000. The AMA is the official national body for model aviation in the United States sanctioning more than 2,000 model competitions throughout the country each year, and certifies official model flying records on a national and international level. The AMA is the organizer of the annual National Aeromodeling Championships, the world’s largest model airplane competition. The Academy serves as the industry’s liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, and other government agencies through their national headquarters in Muncie, Indiana.

 

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): The World Air Sports Federation, was founded in 1905. It is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organization with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide, ratifying world and continental records and coordinating the organization of international competitions. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

 

No Limits FVP: One of the leading drone event producers in the Northeast. Owned by William Aumer of Boston, New York, Bill has organized numerous races utilizing the sanctions of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, MultGP, and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

 

About MultiGP: The World’s largest drone racing league, hosting first-person view (FPV) drone races across the globe. This competitive league features cutting edge drone technology with more than 500 competitive drone racing chapters/clubs and over 20,000 registered competitive FPV drone racing pilots.

 

 

 

 

 

Get ready for a dose of the “Best 12 Days of Summer,” as the Erie County Fair will hold a limited, “flash” sale on admission tickets. The seven-hour sale begins at 12Noon TODAY, Thursday, May 9^th and concludes tonight at 7pm.

 

Flash Sale tickets will be $6 each and may be used any day of the 2019 Fair to be held August 7-18^th.  The sale price represents a 50% saving off regular adult gate admission. To purchase tickets, fairgoers can visit the Fair’s website at www.ECFair.org or stop in person to the Fairgrounds main office today from Noon-7pm. Gate admission purchased via the website is subject to Tickets.com service fees. There is a limit of 8 tickets per person. Children 12 & under are free at the Fair.

 

“Last December the Erie County Agricultural Society announced a restructuring of its gate admission program that will increase the cost of a full-price, adult gate admission to $12,” said Fair CEO & Manager Jessica Underberg. “This was the first change in gate prices for the Erie County Fair in a decade. We encourage all fairgoers to take advantage of today’s one-time only, flash sale. Planning in advance to attend the Fair will save you money.”

 

It has been called by carnival historians the “King of the Midway.” A traveling amusement ride so unique, dazzling and spectacular that it defined the Erie County Fair midway for generations of Western New Yorkers. Today, the Erie County Agricultural Society announced that the James E. Strates Shows will feature the return of the legendary 80-foot-high double Ferris wheel called the Sky Wheel on its midway in 2019. This limited, one-time engagement is part of the celebration commemorating the 95^th year of the Strates Shows at the Erie County Fair.

 

 

“The double Ferris wheel is one of the most requested bygone attractions that fairgoers continually ask us to bring back,” said Marty Biniasz, Erie County Fair Marketing Manager. “Not only is this rare ride an icon of the Strates Shows midway, it also has a deep Buffalo-Niagara connection as the Sky Wheel ride was once manufactured by the Allan Herschell Co.”

 

 

The Sky Wheel debuted on the Erie County Fair’s midway in 1963 and was a featured attraction until 1994. The ride made a brief reappearance between 1996 and 1998 before it was retired by the Strates Shows. Once a common attraction at major county and state fairs, the fully restored version of the ride scheduled to appear in 2019 is one of only five operating Sky Wheel rides remaining in North America. Rides on the Sky Wheel will be part of all Strates Shows one price ride days and Fun Card ticket programs.

 

 

“The Sky Wheel seats 32 people in 16 seats,” said Biniasz. “Riders experience the sensation of a rapid acceleration being propelled into the sky and then the feeling of a free fall as the wheels rotate downwards. Although there have been faster, taller and more modern rides over the decades, the adrenalin rush you get from the Sky Wheel is in a class of its own.”

 

 

In 1960, the Allan Herschell Co., then a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Wiesner-Rapp Company, purchased the Sky Wheel patents and manufacturing rights from brothers Curtis and Elmer Velare of Long Beach, California. From 1960 until the sale of the Herschell Company’s assets in 1970 to Chance Manufacturing of Wichita, Kansas, Sky Wheels were built at the Herschell plant located at 1165 Clinton Street in East Buffalo.  At the time of the sale to Chance, the Allan Herschell Company was the largest manufacturer of amusement rides in North America.

 

 

The addition of the Sky Wheel to the 2019 Erie County Fair midway celebrates the exclusive relationship between the Erie County Fair and the Strates Shows. Now in its 95th year, this partnership is considered a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry. According to the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, the relationship between the Strates Shows and the Erie County Fair is the longest continuous run of any carnival midway in the United States.

 

 

Unique among today’s amusement operators, The Strates Shows is the only “railroad carnival” in North America. Each spring, the Strates Shows leaves its winter quarters in Florida and begins an eight-month journey by rail that transports their equipment to fairgrounds across the eastern seaboard and northeast. The “fair train,” as commonly known in Western New York, currently is comprised of over 50 rail cars. The arrival of the Strates train at the depot in the Village of Hamburg, a living piece of Americana, will be celebrated again this summer.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

In 2009, the Erie County Agricultural Society inaugurated its award-winning Fair Camp program with the goal to stimulate an interest in agriculture, a passion for learning and foster a love of the Erie County Fair. In the 11 years of its existence, over 350 children and their parents have slept overnight in a barn, assisted with farm chores, showed animals in a livestock competition and worked inside a fair food concession.

 

 

Once again, the Erie County Agricultural Society will offer this two and a half day agricultural and county fair immersion experience for children ages 8-10 and an accompanying parent. Under the supervision of trained Camp Counselors, children will gain first-hand experience in raising, caring for and showing livestock as well as receive a “behind the scenes” look at the Fair.

 

 

The Camp hosts two sessions, one each week of the Fair (Friday-Sunday, August 9-11 and 16-18). Campers and a parent/guardian live on the Fairgrounds during the session in our “hay loft” located inside the Agriculture Discovery Center.  Number of participants for each session is limited to six children and an accompanying parent. Small groups insure each child gets a unique experience and personal attention.

 

 

Children interested in participating are required to apply no later than May 6, 2019. Applications are available online at https://www.ecfair.org/p/other/faircamp. There is no cost to attend Fair Camp, including meals and entertainment, as the program is underwritten by the Erie County Agricultural Society.  Questions may be directed to the Fair’s Agriculture Education Office at (716)649-3900 ext 6499 or by emailing Education Coordinator Amber Klein at aklein@ecfair.org.

 

 

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 180th Erie County Fair will be held August 7th – 18th, 2019 (www.ECFair.org).

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Get to the Fair early on Wednesday, August 14^th and hit the chow line for “Breakfast With Champions.” This inaugural fundraiser, to benefit the Erie County Agricultural Society’s Scholarship Fund, will include a country-style breakfast featuring Western New York sourced sausage, eggs and maple syrup along with pancakes and home fries. During the event the Fair will put the spotlight on winners of our 4-H and FFA competitions as well as 2019 recipients of the Society’s scholarships. Breakfast will be served beginning at 8:30a inside Barn 1. Guest are asked to use Gate 1A (McKinley Parkway near Quinby)

 

 

“We are proud of our youth winners who tirelessly work to be the best,” said Jessica Underberg, Fair CEO. “Members of 4-H, FFA and the recipients of our agriculture and Fair scholarships are quickly becoming leaders in their communities. By attending ‘Breakfast With Champions’ we are investing in the future of Western New York.”

 

 

Preparations for “Breakfast With Champions” began last year when a prized hog was purchased by the Society at the 4-H livestock auction. Following the Fair, the animal was processed and made into sausage that will be served at the breakfast taking place inside the Fair’s Barn 1.

 

 

Tickets for “Breakfast With Champions” go on sale May 1^st online at www.ECFair.org and at the Fairgrounds Main office. The cost includes breakfast and admission to the Fair. The cost is $25 pre-sale/$30 at the event with proceeds to benefit the Erie County Agricultural Society’s Scholarship Fund. Fair Exhibitors may purchase tickets for $18 during time of online entries. A limited number of tickets are available for this event.

 

 

Annually, the Erie County Agricultural Society presents up to $20,000 in scholarship opportunities to students who participate in the Erie County Fair. Scholarships are awarded based on general Fair participation and those involved in agricultural related activities. Since its inception in the 1950s, the goal of the scholarship program has been to connect the region’s students with agriculture, business, and volunteerism.

 

“Breakfast With Champions” is supported by APEX Agricultural Products Extension, LLC. and Eggland’s Best.

 

The Erie County Fair is proud to present The Australian Pink Floyd Show on Friday, August 16^th at 8pm at the Gusto Grandstand. The group is the leading and biggest show of its kind in the world, performing the music of Pink Floyd with note-for-note perfection. This critically-acclaimed tribute show has been astonishing audiences worldwide since 1988. Striving to reproduce the Pink Floyd experience and bring the music to new audiences, the show continues to include a stunning light and laser show, video animations, filmed sequences on a large LED screen and other special effects. Tickets for the show go on sale Thursday, May 2^nd at 10am.

 

 

The Australian Pink Floyd Show is currently performing during their “All That You Love” world tour. Selling four million tickets worldwide and described by international press as “The Gold Standard” and “The Kings of the Genre,” the group has performed in over 35 countries, played at Pink Floyd found member David Gilmore’s 50th birthday celebration where they were joined onstage by fellow Pink Floyd founding member Rick Wright.

 

 

The show pays homage to the music of Pink Floyd and takes concertgoers on a musical journey featuring classics from their most iconic albums, Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall Expect to hear Pink Floyd hits like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Another Brick In The Wall,” “Money,” Time,” and “Comfortably Numb.”

 

 

Tickets for The Australian Pink Floyd Show will go on sale to the general public at 10a, Thursday, May 2^nd at Tickets.com, by phone at 1-888-223-6000, or in person at the Fairgrounds Main Office. Tickets start at $28 for general admission and $40/$55 for reserved seating. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00a-4:30p. Tickets purchased prior to the day of the show include admission to the Erie County Fair on the day of the performance.

 

The 7^th Annual Empire State Beef Classic will be held at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York on April 12-14, 2019.  The show is open to exhibitors of all ages and gives individuals experience prior to showing at their local county and/or state fair. This year’s show will feature a breeding heifer show at 8a and showmanship classes at 2p on Saturday, April 13^th. The market heifer and steer show will be on Sunday, April 14^th at 8a. The judge for the Junior Showmanship Competition, the Open Heifer Show and Open Market Animal Show will be Taylor Frank of El Dorado, KS.

 

 

In 2018, the three day show featured 200 exhibitors representing the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as international entries from Canada. $7000 in premiums and prizes were awarded.

 

 

Late entries will be accepted up until 8p on Saturday, April 13^th. For more information or entry forms please visit www.the-fairgrounds.com and click on “Livestock/Equine Events.” Inquires can also be made by phone at (716) 649-3900 ext. 6480.

 

 

The show is presented by the Erie County Agricultural Society with support from WW Livestock Systems, Kent Feeds, Campbell Land & Cattle, & Eder Mulch. Since its founding in 1819, the mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society has been to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State.

 

Darci Lynne Farmer, who at just 12-years of age won NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” for her singing ventriloquism, will bring her all new Fresh Out of the Box Tour to the Gusto Grandstand at the Erie County Fair on Wednesday, August 7^th at 7:30pm. General admission tickets are $20; reserved track seats at $30/$38 and go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 12^th at 10am.

 

 

“This is a perfect, family-friendly show to kickoff the 180^th Erie County Fair,” said Jessica Underberg, Erie County Fair CEO.

 

 

Winning NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” by the most votes for a final performance in the history of the show, singer/ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer impresses audiences across the country with her sweetheart disposition and undeniable show stopping talent beyond her years. Accompanied by her musical friends including a divaesque rabbit: Petunia, a shy and soulful mouse: Oscar and a sarcastic old woman: Edna. Singing through her friends helped the young entertainer find a voice inside she didn’t know she had and helped her overcome a lifelong struggle with shyness.

 

 

An Oklahoma native, Darci began participating in talent-based pageants at a young age, and picked up ventriloquism shortly after. Two weeks later, Darci began tackling talent shows, eventually making it to the biggest talent show on television, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Following her big win, she has been featured on NBC’s “Little Big Shots,” Food Network’s “Kids Baking Championship,” “Ellen” and “TODAY.”

 

 

Tickets for Darci Lynne will go on sale to the general public at 10a, Friday, April 12^th at Tickets.com, by phone at 1-888-223-6000, or in person at the Fairgrounds Main Office. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00a-4:30p. Tickets purchased prior to the day of the show include admission to the Erie County Fair on the day of the performance.

 

The first steps in the process to determine which homebrew and cider will be named the 2019 Erie County Fair Best In Show has been scheduled. Beginning today, Monday, April 1^st, homebrewers and hard cider makers from across New York State may submit their brews and ciders in the Fair’s Homebrew and Hard Cider Making Competitions. The annual summer release of the limited run, craft beer based on the winning brew has become an anticipated tradition at the Erie County Fair for beer lovers. 2019 is the first year for the Fair’s hard cider making competition.

 

 

Homebrew and cider hobbyists have until Friday, April 5^th to submit their bottles for judging. In addition to the opportunity to win a gold medal for excellence, both the Erie County Fair Homebrew and Hard Cider Competition top entries will be professionally produced and named the 2019 “Erie County Fair Best In Show Beer” and “Erie County Fair Best In Show Cider.”

 

 

A $20 entry fee allows homebrewers to submit up to five entries in categorical styles ranging from lagers and pilsners to a variety of ales. Cider makers can submit hard ciders in categorical styles that include modern cider, fruit cider, hop cider, spiced cider, wood-aged cider and an “anything goes” class. Any New York State resident is eligible to enter the competitions. Judging is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 27^th inside the Fair’s Ag-Grange Building. Top brews and ciders will be selected through a blind tasting panel.

 

 

Once “Best of Show” winners are determined, the competitors will be asked to submit the recipe which will then be turned over to Flying Bison Brewery and BlackBird Cider Works.  The recipes will be analyzed to ensure that it is commercially and legally producible. Once kegged, Try-It Distributing will distribute the finished products for public purchase at select Western New York outlets prior to the Fair. During the Erie County Fair, several on-premises locations will feature the award winning beer and cider.

 

 

Those interested in entering the competition can find complete rules and guidelines on the Erie County website (www.ECFair.org). Entries can be dropped off on Monday, April 1^st through Friday, April 5^th between 9am and 5pm (with a copy of the entry form) to the Main Office of the Fairgrounds. Entries can also be dropped off at Flying Bison Brewing Company on April 4^th or 5^th between the hours of 12pm and 8pm. Those dropping off brew entries at Flying Bison will be able to take home a filled growler of Flying Bison brew for $5. Cider entries can also be dropped off at the Buffalo Cider Hall located at 155 Chandler Street on April 4th or 5th between the hours of 4p and 10p.

 

 

The judging of beer and hard cider is just two of the competitions held annually by the Erie County Fair. In 2019, over 13,000 entries are expected to be received and judged by the Fair’s Competitive Exhibits Office. The wide range of ribbon winning categories include agriculture, conservation and creative arts, among others. Entry information for all other categories will be available online starting May 1st.