14th annual Lewiston Country Fair and Community Yard Sale

by Marianne Gittermann

Director, Village of Lewiston Recreation

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department, with the help of the Lewiston Garden Club, is sponsoring its 14th annual Lewiston Country Fair on Saturday, Sept. 18, on the grounds of the Lewiston Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

Currently, the Recreation Department is looking for amateur gardeners, farmers, bakers, photographers and creative children and adults to join in the fair.

The Lewiston Garden Club will help with the registration and the judging. Registration for the competition will begin at 8:45 a.m. and will end at 10 a.m. Judging will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Registration and category forms can be obtained at the Village of Lewiston offices or the Recreation Center in the Red Brick.

There will be competition, as with all country fairs, for the best in vegetables and the best in flowers. Vegetables will be judged in many different divisions. Large pumpkins are welcome.

Flowers to be judged will be based on those blooming in September as well as dried arrangements and houseplants. Different categories will be included. All vegetables and flowers must have been grown by the entrant.

Amateur bakers will enjoy the cake, pie, cookie and miscellaneous competition. All ingredients must be from scratch. Ingredients must be listed and cannot include items such as instant pudding, cake mixes, etc. Each division will be judged with their individual winners and a best of show.

Again this year will be the relish and jams competition. This will include pickles, salsa and relishes, jams and preserves. Ingredients must be listed and must be made from scratch.

Families and individuals are invited to submit a scarecrow entry in the "Avenue of Scarecrows" in the Rose Garden. Best of show will be given in various divisions and a trophy awarded to the best scarecrow. Each entrant must supply his or her own scarecrow.

Again this year will be the photography competition. All amateur photographers are urged to submit their photo in one of three categories: nature, people and landscape. Photos can be in color or black and white. All photos are to be at least 5-by-7 inches and must be matted.

There will be competition in the craft category. The Recreation Department invites people to bring in their crafts to be judged. The categories will be wood, woodcarving, Native American beading, card making, craft project using rubber stamps, scrapbook page, collages, needlework, quilts, sewing (no clothing, unless part of another craft such as beading or quilting), decorative wreaths, painting and miscellaneous.

As a special treat, there will be a clothesline show of historical Lewiston pictures. The show is co-produced by the Historical Association of Lewiston. The collection of more than 100 photos features buildings on Center Street and snippets of life in Lewiston. The show will be held on Saturday and Sunday in the Red Brick gym from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you live in Lewiston or grew up in Lewiston, you will enjoy the photos.

New this year will be an authentic cowboy (girl) and young cowpoke contest. Contestants will be judged upon western regalia and an interview with the judges. Registration will be at 9 a.m. and the winner will be named at 11 a.m. There will also be a people's choice award. Prizes will be $25 gift certificates to a Lewiston restaurant or business. The contest application and list of rules will be available at the Village of Lewiston Clerk's Office.

A part of the Country Fair will be the popular Revolutionary War, French and Indian War and Civil War re-enactors.

The Recreation Department has expanded the music venue, starting with Step in Time from 10 a.m. to noon, the Niagara Frontier Fiddle Club from noon to 2 p.m., and Another Thyme from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Country Fair will host a community garage sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Red Brick. The public can rent a space to sell items they no longer want. Spaces will be $10 for a 10-by-10-foot area ($15 after Sept. 11). Those interested in reserving a space should call 754-1990.

The Lewiston Junior Garden Club will hold a "Make your own Arrangement" session from 11:30 a.m. until supplies are deleted. Children 3 to 93 years old can make an arrangement with mums by stopping by the Junior Garden Club booth. All supplies will be provided free of charge.

Additional amenities for the Country Fair will be free popcorn, drinks and balloons.

From noon to 2 p.m. there will be a petting zoo and a Bounce-n-Around available for the children. All the events are free and open to residents and non-residents alike.

The Country Fair will be held rain or shine with as many events moving inside as possible in inclement weather.

Timetable for the Country Fair on Saturday, Sept. 18:

• 9-10 a.m., registration for the judging entries.
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., community garage sale on the Red Brick grounds.
• 9 a.m., registration for most authentic cowboy and little cowpoke, followed by and judging from 10 to 11 a.m. The gym will be closed during this time.
• 10 a.m. to noon, music by Step in Time.
• 11 a.m., gym opens for exhibition of competition.
• 11 a.m., clothesline show of historic photos of Lewiston.
• 11 a.m., naming of the winner of the cowboy and cowpoke contest.
• 11:30 a.m., Junior Garden Club arrangements
• Noon to 2 p.m., the petting zoo and Bounce-n-Around
• Noon to 2 p.m., performance by Niagara Frontier Fiddle Club
• 2 to 4 p.m., music by Another Thyme

Application forms for the vegetable, flower, food, photography, craft and scarecrow judging are available at the Village of Lewiston Clerk's office and Recreation Department.

For further information, call the Recreation Department at 754-1990.