OCEAN COUNTY FAIR

Ocean County Fair to debut new games, new rides

By MICHAEL AMSEL • STAFF WRITER • July 8, 2010
Looking for something new and exciting to do next week?
The Ocean County Fair opens on Tuesday and runs for six days at Robert J. Miller Air Park, and organizers have expanded and added new events for fairgoers. Reithoffer Shows has taken over the amusement rides this year and are bringing in some new rides for children and adults.

Some additional games of chance have been added along with a women's iron skillet throwing contest.

Tuesday's schedule of events, which runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., includes Bwana Jim's Wildlife Show, Hot Dog Pig Racing, a Therapeutic Riding demonstration, a Chain Saw Carving demonstration and performances by the Dazzling Mills Family. New Egypt Speedway will bring in race cars to display on Tuesday as well.

The fair, now in its 64th year, will run from Tuesday to July 18.

Admission is $6 for adults, and children under 10 are admitted free."The fair is three times the size of what it used to be," said O.J. Meyer, who has been manager of the fair for more than 30 years.

Meyer was responsible for persuading the Board of Freeholders to move the fair from Ocean County Park in Lakewood, where it was held from 1946 to the early 1980s.

Carvings from the chain saw carver will be for sale each day or can be bought at auction on July 18.

Wednesday will feature Katie Armiger, nationally-known country singer.July 16 will be Wild West Day with western activities for children of all ages.

There will be a pie-eating and pudding-eating contest for children on July 17 and 18, and the final day will include the annual egg hunt.

ON THE WEB: For more information about the Ocean County Fair and complete schedules go to the website http://www.oceancountyfair/