There might not be a parade this year for the Rochester Country Fair, but that doesn’t mean the fair has shrunk in size because of it.
In fact, discontinuing the tradition of the parade, according to Co-Chairperson of the Rochester Country Fair Board of Directors Julie Koczera, frees up resources that can be diverted towards more family fun, especially for the kiddies.
“We now have a mad science fire and ice show, a magic show,” said Koczera, “so we have added a lot more interactive children’s events.”
There is always something going on at the Rochester Country Fair, said Koczera, including some new stuff this year.
Added to the program for Thursday will be a much-anticipated water balloon and sponge toss, said Koczera.
“I think we’ll get a lot of adults participating in that as well with the heat,” said Koczera.
Speaking of the heat, the Country Fair took a major hit in 2015 with extreme temperatures keeping a lot of would-be guests away from the sun-scorched fairgrounds of last year.
“Last year was so awful,” said Koczera. “If it had just rained a little bit, it wouldn’t have been so bad.”
But rain or shine, cold or heat, the Country Fair must go on.
This year, the night of the big concert will be Friday instead of the traditional Saturday night. And this year’s entertainment, said Koczera, is going to be a great show.
Friday’s concert will feature The Idol Kings, a Journey and Mellencamp tribute band out of Pennsylvania, and as Koczera put it, “This band is really good.”
“They dress up just like Journey,” said Koczera. “They put on a really great show.”
Koczera said that last year, the noise from the modified tractor race on Saturday night competed with the sound of the band on the stage, interfering with the enjoyment of the music.
“And the tractors, they are loud. They drowned out the music,” said Koczera. “With the concert being 7:30 on Friday, it allows us to move the wrestling over to Saturday.”
Wrestling, always one of the favored events of the Country Fair, is bigger, better, and badder than ever this year, said Koczera, with the addition of not one, but two, steel cage fights.
Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros will be the guest referee Saturday night, which RMS students are sure to get a kick out of, said Koczera.
Medeiros actually had to attend some formal training in order to referee the event and understand what is required of him, learning the rules and regulations of wrestling.
“I even gave him a couple opportunities to bow out,” said Koczera. “This is something that he can actually say that he did. So I think that’ll be a lot of fun.”
Sunday morning will feature a couple of new events as well.
There will be go-cart, quarter sprint car, and lawn mower racing this year.
“It will be a first for us. It’ll be fun to watch,” Koczera said.
There will still be the traditional faves of previous years, Koczera said, like the kid’s races, the pie eating contest, and the frog derby, for sure.
If only this year, the weather would cooperate.
“We just hope it isn’t too excruciatingly hot,” said Koczera. “But you can’t control the weather, so you just roll with it. We’ll be there, rain or shine.”
You can see the entire schedule for the 17th Annual Rochester Country Fair printed in this week’s edition of The Wanderer.
The Rochester Country Fair runs from Thursday, August 18 through Sunday, August 21 at the fairgrounds on Pine Street.
By Jean Perry
There’s no mention of a Antique Tractor Show (viewing of old ) besides pulling competition.