Scenes From a County Fair

By Lorinda Jarvis

In today’s high-tech world, the Cumberland County Fair is a delicious analog landscape.

Here, your teenagers can stash their phones and take a bite into a steaming plate of funnel cake, topped with snowy confectioner’s sugar, or dig into a plate of salty, crispy fries. Top off all that greasy food with a spin or three on one of the many amusement rides lining the fairway.

Step right up, folks, to the Cumberland County Fair, located at 3301 Carmel Road in Millville and running from Tuesday, July 8 to Saturday, July 12. Admission is $5, but free to kids 12 and younger on Wednesday, July 9. Also, on Thursday, July 10, admission will be free to seniors 62 or older or veterans with ID. 

Some things never change here at the fair: The magician, the 4-H Fair competitions and its buildings full of animals, sinking a ball into a basket or knocking over a set of bottles at one of the games of chance.

That’s the way it should be, says JoAnne Kowalski, organizer and president of the Cumberland County Cooperative Fair Association. “Our goal is to make it a fun family event that’s not too expensive,” said Kowalski, now in her second year as president of the association. “That’s why we keep it at the $5 entry.”

While some things stay the same, such as the combined effort with the Cumberland County 4-H organization, other entertainment highlights change from year to year.

This year, as it was last year, security is a priority. “We try to make it so that it’s safe for everybody,” she said. “We have upped our security.”

Children younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. 

The county has increased the number of sheriff officers they will provide for fair security. 

“We had no incidents at all last year,” Kowalski said. “And we want to keep that up and make sure people know it’s safe.”

Last year, the fair introduced a traveling portable pirate show, which will return this year. The pirate shows will be held Wednesday through Saturday. 

“He has shows where he teaches kids how to become a pirate and how to wield a sword. So, he’s coming back this year,” Kowalski said.

In past years, the fun might skew in favor of the boys. So, this year, Kowalski and organizers introduced Disney princesses, who will roam the park and take selfies with guests.

Among this year’s highlights:

• Mini Monster Trucks: Every day of the fair, visitors can enjoy competing with radio-controlled small monster trucks. Kids or adults can go against each other until a winner is declared.

• Bull Riding: From 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday: Guests can try their luck on a mechanical bull. Participants must meet size qualifications for safety reasons.

• Rides: Amusements of America has been contracted to provide rides and games of chance throughout the week, with rides for both adults and children. 

• Discounts: On Wednesday and Thursday: Visitors may purchase a $40 wristband for either adults or children to enjoy the rides as often as they like.

• Food: The fair will feature at least 17 vendors, from standard fair food such as funnel cakes and soft serve ice cream to 4-H barbecue platters, Spanish food, including a taco truck and handmade lemonade. New this year: a food truck that serves African food from Kenya.

• Music: This year’s fair will feature a variety of live bands throughout the week. Wednesday, 7 to 9 p.m.: The Wag, known for playing Beatles music along with other various covers. Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m.: Roadhouse, which plays music from the 1950s to the 1980s. Friday, 7 to 9 p.m.: Secret Sauce, which plays rock cover music.

• Fireworks: 15-minute show scheduled for 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

• Auction: On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., 4-H will hold its livestock auction. Come and bid on an animal. If you win, the animal will be butchered and prepackaged at a later date. The money from the auctions goes back to the individual clubs.

• 4-H Dog Fun Show: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Guests bring in dogs and put them through various challenges and voice commands. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Contests include shortest tail that wags, treat catching, longest tail, best trick, best costume, cutest dog, highest jumping dog, dog and owner look alike contest. Events sponsored by the Cumberland County 4-H Dog Clubs. Dogs must be on a leash and owners must provide water for their pets. Do not bring aggressive dogs or dogs in heat. Prizes awarded.

• Barbecue: Friday,4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The 4-H Club will sell barbecue platters. Choice of half a chicken or pulled pork sandwich. Includes corn on the cob, salad with tomatoes onions and cucumbers, baked beans and a roll. Choice of one or the other. Cost: $15.

• Barrel Racing: On Friday, 7 p.m., the National Barrel Racing Association will be featured. The association sets up barrels at certain lengths in the arena, and horses will move around them. The rider with the quickest and most accurate runs will be awarded prizes.

• Demo Derby: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, with separate $10 admission fee.  

• Animal Competitions: Fans of 4-H will have plenty to enjoy during the week. All through the week, 4-H has plenty of shows and competitions. Awards will be given to prize rabbits and goats, swine, poultry, steer and more. Look for a demonstration of seeing eye dogs and even the “Bunny Olympics,” in which kids train their bunnies to do things such as jump a stick or go through tunnels. Kids even dress up animals in costumes, all to grab the attention of judges. A booklet will be available at the door to explain the types of competitions and events throughout the week.

• Kiddie Tractor Contest: The fair will hold a tractor obstacle course for children. Kids will pedal their tractors around an obstacle course in a certain amount of time. “This will happen throughout the week,” Kowalski said.

• Home Arts: The Fair Association will team up with Rutgers Master Gardeners for a home arts competition. Both adults and youth will compete separately in categories such as needlepoint, quilting, knitting and crocheting. Residents may also compete in categories that include photography, woodworking, drawing, leatherwork, baskets and ceramics. Food competitions will be held in canning, dessert, bread and muffins. Kowalski said the Master Gardeners group held fundraisers so the money for awards could be increased in each group. There will be one grand champion for both kids and adults, which may be selected from any of the categories. Other prizes awarded for best in show, as well as first- second- and third prize winners.