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The Erie County Fair returned in 2021. (Photos by Tom Wolf Imaging/courtesy of the venue)
The Erie County Fair returned in 2021. (Photos by Tom Wolf Imaging/courtesy of the venue)

Gates officially close on 181st Erie County Fair

Submitted

Wed, Aug 25th 2021 01:05 pm

The “Best 12 Days of Summer” in Western New York concluded Sunday night. The Erie County Fair was put together in just over 80 days once state and county officials provided final approval.

“We are proud that we were able to host the 2021 Erie County Fair,” said Jessica Underberg, CEO and fair manager. “The 2021 fair provided our partners with the opportunity to return to work and generate revenue. More importantly, our community was able to enjoy and experience all the sights and sounds that were so sadly missed in 2020.”

Final attendance is reported at 981,264, a 14% decrease from the attendance average over the previous five years. That said, venue staffers said these fair days were a “bonus” compared to 2020, when the event had to be canceled.

Some Erie County Fair numbers to consider include:

√ $318,151 combined gross sales of 4-H and FFA market animal auctions, a 10% increase from 2019

√ $91,966 total dollars in premiums paid out

√ 44,460 donations collected for local charities (reported to date)

√ 10,159 competitive exhibits entries, including 4-H

√ 135 Friends of the Fair volunteers/coordinators

√ 2,700 scheduled volunteer hours covered by Friends of the Fair

√ 1,406 livestock (excluding horse show & 4-H)

√ 505 menu items available at concessionaires

√ 483 free grounds act performances

√ 335 pounds of produce donated to FeedMore WNY from the entries that remained at the Ag-Grange Building

√ 167 rides, games and concessions on the Strates Shows midway (and a reported five record days)

√ 96 years with James E. Strates Shows

√ 113 local bands and community performance acts

√ 62 chickens and turkeys from the livestock auctions donated to FeedMore WNY from the 4-H auction

√ 56 members of the Erie County Fair Marching Band sponsored by Pepsi

A press release stated, “The Erie County Agricultural Society would like to thank Western New York for its patience and continued support of the Erie County Fair.”

An annual event, the fair is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society, a private, not-for-profit membership organization established in 1819. Next year’s 182nd edition will take place Aug. 10-21. For more information, visit www.ECFair.org.

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