Altamont Fair: Where farming meets fun
Staple of summer offers rides, good fun and a slice of agricultural life
Brady Engel, 7, left, and his cousin Eddie Reville, 6, right, of Selkirk, watch Twigg's, an 18 foot tall giraffe, part of Circus Hollywood, by Corona's of Hollywood, of Florida, have lunch in preparation for the Tuesday beginning of The Altamont Fair, on Sunday Aug. 12, 2012 in Altamont, NY.
(Philip Kamrass / Times Union)
from: timesunion.com
By Dayelin Roman
August 13, 2012
ALTAMONT — Pat Canaday remembers watching horses in the barns of the Altamont Fair when she was a child living in suburban Westmere.
Now she cares for 92 sheep on her 30-acre farm, and spreads her passion for agriculture as a member of the fair's board of directors.
"Our mission of agriculture is so important to preserve and maintain," Canaday said. "Our kids are missing our pride of working with soil. That's the foundation of how all of us are enhanced."
Workers set up for Circus Hollywood, by Corona's of Hollywood, of Florida, in preparation for the Tuesday beginning of The Altamont Fair, on Sunday Aug. 12, 2012 in Altamont, NY. They have been putting on circuses since 1970 in the United States, and play state fairs around the country, according to their owner. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union)
While children and families often get wrapped up in the excitement for fair food, rides and shows, Canaday said the event also provides an opportunity to learn about history through bread-baking demonstrations and goat-milking lessons.
"We're hoping to catch their interest on their way to the rides," she said.
The Altamont Fair kicks off another season at 7 a.m. Tuesday and features an array of animals, rides, food and shows. A $15 ticket buys access to parking, admission and every ride.
The Altamont Fair kicks off another season at 7 a.m. Tuesday and features an array of animals, rides, food and shows. A $15 ticket buys access to parking, admission and every ride.
The fair, however, will not have any pigs available for petting, an activity the Centers for Disease Control have warned against in light of new a new strain of swine flu that spreads from pigs to people, mainly in the arena of petting zoos in fairs.
Instead, the fair's petting zoo will feature giraffes.
Twigg's, an 18 foot tall giraffe, part of Circus Hollywood, by Corona's of Hollywood, of Florida, has some lunch in preparation for the Tuesday beginning of The Altamont Fair, on Sunday Aug. 12, 2012 in Altamont, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union)
Two new rides, the Vertigo and Speed, are coming to town. Vertigo swings round and round 100 feet above the ground, while Speed is a 125-foot-long rotating arm with seats on each end that free fall and flip.
A circus show will include Royal Friesian Stallions, an aerial act and camels.
Musical comedy, bands, ventriloquism, a farmer's market, Frisbee-fielding canines and draft horse shows all will be available to entertain families.
New food vendors will sell peach cobbler, frozen lemonade and a vegetable platter along with staples like deep-fried Oreos, pizza and sausage and peppers on a roll.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Altamont-Fair-Where-farming-meets-fun-3783069.php#ixzz23P4Z5D4O
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