Erie County Fair Blog

Auditions for the 2010 Erie County Fair Pepsi-Cola Marching Band will take place on Monday, June 2 from 5-9pm in the Event (Agri) Center.

All WNY high school students (grades 9-12) that play clarinet, flute, piccolo, saxophone, cymbals, trumpet, bass drum, snare drum, trombone, tuba, bells, french horn, sousaphone, mellophone, quads or euphonium and color guards that are invited to try out for the 2010 season.

 Approximately 80 musicians will be accepted; students need to be available to play at various events during the Erie County Fair, which runs August 11-22, including the Daily Parade and various events throughout the community in July and August.  There will also be rehearsals twice per week in June.

Applications are available at all Erie County High Schools or by calling Russ Marquart at (716) 649-3900 ext 403.  Applications must be submitted to by May 22, 2010 to Erie County Fair, Pepsi Cola Marching Band, 5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg, NY 14075.

Make sure you keep August 11 open so that you will be on hand to see one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history perform on the Buffalo.com Grandstand at the Erie County Fair.    

His newest album Thank You Mr. Churchill is due out April 27 and is of an autobiographical nature that takes him back to the beginning, literally.

Tickets will be just $30/$15 and will go on sale at a later date.  Tickets purchased in advance will include free admission to the Fair on the day of the show.   

This year at the Erie County Fair, there will be a new area for Crafters.  The outdoor Craft Area will be open from 10am-10pm daily, set in a small town quaint setting against the backdrop of the Historical Building. 

We are looking to feature crafters of homemade arts and crafts including, but not limited to, jewelry, personlized bibs, hand blown glass, home decor and even items for pets.

We are offering a very reasonable booth fee for any crafter wishing to be a ground breaker for this exciting new area.  If you are interested in bringing your hand crafted items this year, click here for more info, email jcammarano@ecfair.org or call (716) 649-3900 ext 402.

Spring has sprung!  Now’s the time to start thinking about your summer garden!  While the average last frost date for WNY is still a few weeks away (all of Erie County should be in the clear after May 10), you can definitely start starting your seeds indoors in the next couple of weeks. 

Are you new to gardening?  You wouldn’t believe it, but planting enough veggies for your family this summer isn’t that hard!  Here’s a few easy to grow veggies that do well in all kinds of spaces, both large and small: tomatoes, lettuces, beans, peas, peppers, spinach, and summer/zucchini squash.  Having a homegrown garden is rewarding, money saving, fun, and best of all, it can win you cash prizes!  Every year during the fair backyard gardeners can enter the Erie County Fair’s Plant Science competitions and earn that coveted blue ribbon.  Information can be found at www.ecfair.org.   So get growing Western New York!

Find out more information here at the Cornell Cooperative Extension website..

Have you ever wondered what it is like to sleep in the barns at the Erie County Fair, or to take care of those precious animals that stay right there too?  What about riding in the parade or seeing just how cotton candy and taffy is made?  Well, now here’s your chance!

The Erie County Fair is inviting all 8, 9, and 10 year olds to fill out an application for the chance to be one of the “campers” chosen in the second (2) year of Fair Camp.  Campers (& their same sex parent or guardian) will sleep in the barns, help take care of the Ag-Sperience animals, have the opportunity to show a calf, learn more about that yummy fair food, and even ride in the parade.  Campers & their guardians will come away from the ultimate Fair Camp experience with a greater knowledge of agriculture and livestock, not to mention and inside view of the great Erie County Fair, through hands-on activities under the supervision of qualified staff (camp counselors).

The Erie County Fair will choose lucky participants to camp on the Fairgrounds for 2 nights and participate in actual farm “chores” of all types, for FREE!! For 2010, campers can choose between August 13, 14, 15 or August 20, 21, 22.

For more information call Jessica Underberg, 716-649-3900 ext. 407 or email junderberg@ecfair.org.

Looking for some money to go to college?  The Erie County Agricultural Society, sponsor of the Erie County Fair, and Fairgrounds Gaming will be giving out $14,000 in scholarship money this year.  High school seniors and/or college students can be eligible for this money.  Students who are actively involved in Erie County Fair activities (including, but not limited to; junior exhibit competition, Erie County Fair Marching Band, 4-H or F.F.A. Fair activities) and are high school seniors residing in and attending a high school in Erie County or a student attending college, through their junior year are eligible for our scholarship program.

Hurry, applications are due April 16, 2010!

Download an application here.

If you have any questions regarding this scholarship program, please feel free to contact Russell Marquart, CFE at 649-3900 ext 403.

 106.5 WYRK & WKBW TV Welcome

Jamey Johnson in a free concert

• August 16, 2010
• 8:00pm
• FREE Concert with gate admission
• Johnson was nominated for the 2009 CMA Awards New Artist of the Year, and has been nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music Top New Solo Vocalist.
• Johnson co- wrote with Bill Anderson and Cannon, George Straits’ #1 hit “Give It Away”, which was Straits’ 41st #1 on the Billboard Country charts, setting a new record for most #1 on that chart.
• In 2008 Johnson released the album, That Lonesome Song, which was only available online. The album drew the attention of Mercury Nashville Records, who signed him to record deal in 2008.
• His first single for Mercury Nashville Records, was “In Color,” co-written by Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto. “In Color” was released in March 2008 and peaked at #9 on the Country chart in January 2009.
• Jamey Johnson signed to BNA Records in 2005, and made his debut with his single “The Dollar”, the title track to his 2006 album The Dollar, went on to peak at #14 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

The winners from the Demolition Derby that was held here at the Erie County Fair on Sunday, August 23 are…

 2:00pm Show
1st - Ray Ward
2nd - Catlin Garrity
3rd - Bill Moretti

7:00pm Show
1st - Tyler Haniszewski
2nd - Scott Gable
3rd - Kevin Mundaniohl

Each year at the Fair, the Board of Directors of the Erie County Agricultural Society vote on vendors for their booth and/or food.  The following are the winners in the diffrent categories…

BEST FARE OF THE FOOD
Peter’s Fine Greek - Gyros
Chesley’s - Scott’s Pizza

THE SUNSHINE AWARD
NYS Wine Village

BEST OUTDOOR
Black Hat Chimney
General Welding
Anchor Marine

BEST INDOOR
Skyline
Pure Integrity Candles

MOST IMPROVED
Weidner’s