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The county fairs offer great summertime fun for the whole family
By Clare Marie Celano
A fter months of braving the cold weather, shoveling snow and staying indoors, families are more than ready to spend some quality time together out in the warm weather.
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County fairs offer endless opportunities for families to enjoy exciting, interesting, fun activities, and at affordable prices. The fairs offer a myriad of events and activities, including all-day entertainment, arts and craft shows, 4-H activities, animal shows and much more.
The 35th annual Monmouth County Fair will be held at East Freehold Park on Kozloski Road in Freehold Township July 22-26. Opening-night fireworks on July 22 at 9:15 p.m. will kick off the week's festivities.
Fair hours are as follows: July 22 and July 23 from 5 to 11 p.m., July 24 from 5 to 11 p.m., July 25 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and July 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $7; children 12 and under are admitted free. Free parking is available.
Those with crafty talents and baking abilities will enjoy the Home and Garden Competition and Exhibits, which feature baked goods, honey, needlepoint, quilts, flowers, vegetables, artwork and crafts.
Shutterbugs can snap photos of scenery in Monmouth County and enter their work in the Amateur Photography Competition. This year's theme, "Scenic Images of Monmouth County," will accept current photos —black and white, hand-tinted and color as well as computer-generated art. Contestants should bring their work to the showgrounds on July 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or July 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.
If arts and crafts are your forté, here is your opportunity to shine in the fair's arts and crafts competition. Entries are accepted July 19 from 10 p.m. to 3 p.m. and July 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Home and Garden Competition and Exhibit features a Gardeners' Day on July 24, (entries accepted 8-11 a.m.), a Bakers' Day on July 25, (entries accepted 8-11 a.m.), a Children's Day on July 25 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and a Senior Citizens Day on July 26 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visitors to the fair will enjoy animal shows and exhibits presented by the 4-H, and youngsters will love the rides and amusements on tap just for them. The fair will host kids' races, a barbecue competition, lumberjack shows, racing pigs and circus night.
For more information about the Monmouth County Fair, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.
The Ocean County Fair offers a wide array of activities and entertainment for visitors. The fair will be held July 14-19 at the Robert J. Miller Air Park, Route 530 in Berkeley Township.
Fair hours are as follows: July 14 and July 15, 5-11 p.m.; July 16, 17 and 18 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and July 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $6 and children under 10 are free.
Fair manager OJ Meyer and wife Kitty, who serve the fair as vendor and entertainment coordinators, have wonderful entertainment lined up for visitors.
The list includes a variety of artists including The Mills Family, a unique juggling act who will perform daily; Dale Jones, a one-handed juggler; and puppeteer Tom Crowl, who will bring along his life-sized puppets on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. "Wana Jim" will bring his exotic animal show, which includes critters such as alligators and snakes. Illusionist John Bundy will be on hand to surprise and delight guests, as will escape artist Morgan.
OJ is still working on securing a country band to entertain.
Exciting games, amusements and rides are all on tap for little ones, including a kiddie tractor ride, a pieeating contest, an ice-cream-eating contest and an egg hunt.
Members of the 4-H are scheduled to present animal shows featuring cats, dog horses and poultry. A goat dress-up contest is also planned.
Open show tents are also planned, where fair participants can bring their crafts, baked goods, needlework and plants to vie for prizes.
For more information about the Ocean County Fair, visit www.oceancountyfair.com.
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