The Broome County Agricultural Society presents the 136th Broome County Fair from July 27th – Aug 1st at the Whitney Point Fairgrounds. This famous rural event, which traditionally opens its gates to visitors from across New York State during the last week in July, has a rich history reaching back to 1871 in Whitney Point. Annually the Fair Board exhibits numerous attractions at the Fairgrounds, such as agricultural equipment and car shows, but the climax of the year comes when the Broome County Fair is held, bringing thrills and cheers to children of all ages. The Broome County Fairgrounds is a part of Whitney Point’s historical past that has been preserved for future generations. New in 2010 are the Miniature Horse Pull, and back again are Buffalo Barfield’s “Unherd” of Entertainment, and the thrill of Bull and Bronc Riding with Broken T Rodeo.
         The 136th Broome County Fair invites all Broome County residents and visitors to celebrate a connection to the agri-culture of our region. The tradition that reminds us to bring our tools and domesticated animals together to admire their strength (the tractor pull! the pony pull!), that joins us in carnival fun (the ferris wheel! the carousel!), that fills our bellies with carnival fare (the foot-long hotdogs! the pulled taffy! the deep-fried pickles!) - this tradition in which many of us were raised and nurtured calls us to the handshakes and smiles of neighbors taking rest from work in play.
         This year’s Broome County Fair welcomes the young and the young at heart with thrilling rides, startling sights, and crunching sounds. While your stomach settles from seeing your world turned upsidedown on the Midway carnival rides, win a carnival prize by mastering projectiles: toss a ping pong ball in a glass bowl, throw a dart at a balloon, or shoot a BB at a moving target. Watch Mark Watson ply an inert block of wood into an artwork before your eyes just as he did before David Letterman. Or try to figure out the mode or madness of the gravity-defying shenanigans of “Magical John,” the Strolling Magician.
         Crunch! Ouch! That’s gotta hurt! Come to the spine-tingling, heart-pounding metal mash of maniacs behind the wheel, cruisin’ for a bruisin’. Cars rescued from their final resting place are given a new lease on life as they become wheeled weapons, loud and full of attitude. (Please step out of the car, Sir. Your car has become a toaster.) The Fire Marshall is standing by – fire and explosions are bound to result when two or three cars try to occupy the same space at the same time. Ah! the dust of disintegration!
         As evening falls, the twinkle of polished chrome in the bright sun gives way to a kaleidoscope of neon and incandescent colors, pulsing to the music and spinning with the rides. As the sky turns from twilight to night, the Fair is a beauty to behold. The throbbing engines thundering in the Grandstands build the excitement in the air, making it hard to wipe that silly grin off of your face.

Images on this page courtesy of JW Johnston