Erie County Fair opens

The 180th Erie County Fair will officially open to the general public at noon on Wednesday. There will be a short ceremony beginning at 11:40 a.m. at the historic McKinley Parkway gate. The program will also include remarks by venue officials, introduction of the 2019 “Ultimate Fairgoer,” and a flurry of fireworks at noon. The national anthem will be performed by the Erie County Fair Marching Band.

Here is what you need to know for Day 1 of the Erie County Fair:

Deals and Discounts:

•Channel 2 Opening Day includes $5 adult admission or free admission with the donation of two canned food items to benefit FeedMore of WNY.

•One-Price Ride Day. Unlimited ride wristbands are available for $30 on the Strates midway. Guests who pre-purchased their ride vouchers at Tops may redeem them at the Strates ticket booth at the top of the Avenue of Flags.

Special Events

•Midway Game Inspection. The Erie County sheriff will inspect the midway games to ensure they are fair for guests. Inspection will begin around 11:15 a.m.

•I-Hub Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The 180th Erie County Fair will celebrate the return and expansion of the I-Hub Exhibit. It will showcase STEM throughout Western New York companies through demonstrations and informational sessions. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will also welcome the Innovation Station to the I-Hub Exhibit.

•Ceremonial Keg Tapping. To celebrate the new Erie County Fair Beer and the Erie County Fair Cider, a ceremonial keg tapping will take place at 5 p.m. at Cork & Brew on the Avenue. Erie County Fair Beer was brewed by Flying Bison using the recipe of the venue’s homebrew competition winner.

There also will be live German music.

•Skylighters Fireworks presented by Channel 2 ‘On Your Side.’ Opening day will end with an actual bang when Skylighters Fireworks light the night sky. The show is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m.

•Daily Flag Retreat Ceremony. During the ceremony, the American flag, which was flown during that day at the fair, will be lowered and presented to a veteran and/or active military member of the military who will be the “Flag Retreat Honoree of the Day.” This ceremony is beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Slade Park and happening every day of the fair.

Live in the GUSTO Grandstand

•Darci Lynne & Friends: Fresh Out of the Box. After winning NBCs "Americas Got Talent" at just 12 years old – and by the most votes for a final performance in the history of the show – singer/ventriloquist Darci Lynne has continued to impress audiences across the country with her sweetheart disposition and show-stopping talent.

The show is part of the GUSTO Grandstand Concert Series and will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 preferred track, $30 track reserved, or $20 general admission.

The 2019 Erie County Fair will continue through Aug. 18. Vist www.ECFair.org for more information.