HAMBURG, N.Y. — There are a couple of months left until the Great New York State Fair. Before you know it, it will be time to fill up on fried foods, scream on roller coasters and take a whack at a mole or two.
This year marks 182 years of the state fair. There’s another fair that rivals it: the Erie County Fair, celebrating a milestone of its own in its 184th year. Directors have been asking the community to get involved.
The tables sit empty, and the midway is not there. Out of the more than 1.1 million people who attended last year, there are millions more memories — and love stories, too.
“She made the mistake of bringing the music stand with no clips or anything for her music,” August Bates, a former member of the Erie County Fair Band said. “And we were outside for the day, like today. Windy. She was standing next to me, all her music just blew all over the place.”
Bates says it was like a Hallmark movie.
“[A] male character meets a female character and they kind of fall in love on the spot,” he smiled.
That was in 2015 when Bates and his now-fiancée Kaitlyn Osswald were freshmen. They played in the woodwind section of the Fair Band together through high school. After eight years together, Bates proposed in the fall.
“I told him a couple of things where it needed to be in the fall time; had to be October because my birthday’s also in October,” Osswald laughed.
Friends and family were there upon request as well.
“For once, I actually listened,” he laughed and said.
Now they’re sharing their story as part of the Erie County Fair’s effort to collect memories. It’s marking 100 years with Strates Shows, the people who make the midway possible.
“It’s more than just a music ensemble, right,” Bates said. “It’s more than just learning to play music. Keep playing your instrument over the summer. It’s about the connection. It’s about the people that you meet.”
The couple submitted five photos to the Share Your Fair Project. It will give folks just a glimpse into their memories. Osswald has kept everything. So has Jill Vickerd.
“Because it’s all about family,” Vickerd, from West Seneca, said. “My family and I have been coming to the fair every year since I was two. And now I actually get to share that experience with my five-year-old twins.”
The Fireman’s building is the family favorite.
“They have that firefighter’s maze that literally it’s the first thing my kids want to do,” Vickerd smiled and said. “They also love the little animatronic dog that talks to you. they give that dog hugs. They look for the little dog. They always want to talk to her. I just hope it becomes a place for them that is about family, and about memories and things that bring them happiness.”
After decades, that’s certainly the case for her.
“I will continue coming here, God forbid,” Vickerd said. “So, you know, as long as I’m walking or I can get a little motorized scooter, I will be here every year.”
Ali Bukowski, the chief marketing officer for the Erie County Fair, says hundreds of submissions have come in. Each one, Bukowski said, has brought a smile and a reminder.
“There’s something for everyone at the fair is what we always like to say on the Fair team,” Bukowski said. “And we’ve built this to be an experience that everyone in every generation within your family can enjoy something at the fair.”
Submissions close July 1. The display will be at the Fair Museum, which was formerly known as the Heritage and History Museum. You’ll also see them online.
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