So you are too busy to make it to Chautauqua County’s Blast From the Past Fair and Rodeo on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Never fear, the best is yet to come. Saturday is the one day you can’t miss.
They will crown Mr. & Miss Chautauqua County at 10 am with the parade to follow. If that’s not your cup of tea, watch or join in the horseshoe pitching tournament also at 10. At 11 the FFA is hosting the watermelon feed at the fairgrounds that will be going on in conjunction with the kid's pedal pull on the midway or take in the car show on the courthouse lawn ‘til 5. The 4-H style review show is at 11:30 in the pavilion and at noon the FFA will have the Cow Patty Bingo. At 12:30 in the 4-H building is the homemade cookie contest. The Cornhole Tournament starts at 1 in the pavilion. From 1 to 4 you can swim for free in the city pool. The BBQ judging is at 1:45 and at 2 in the 4-H arena, the can’t miss Celebrity Showmanship contest takes place. In the 4-H building at 2, there will be a Painting Class along with a Kid's Craft Corner at 3. From 5 to 7 the BBQ People’s Choice will be awarded. Play Bingo from 6 to 9. The carnival rides open back up from 6 ‘til 10. At 7 the 4-H Supporters Dinner will be in the 4-H building. The rodeo starts at 8 at the Lou Todd Arena and from 9 to midnight finish up the fair with the free dance featuring Tyler Byrd in the Pavilion.
On a personal note, my late mother Linda Kline served on the Fair Board most of her adult life, and she is looking down with a great big grin. The amount of activities and festivities in this year's fair is truly a blast from the past. Having helped mom organize and coordinate several fairs I have a good idea of how much time and hard work is spent to make sure everyone has a good time and truly after seeing all the sweat, blood, and a few tears, I'm sure, that have been put into this year's fair I would just like to say my hat’s off to the fair board and all those making the fun and the wonderful memories possible. I know mom would say she is very proud, as am I to be from a little place called Chautauqua County.
