Sizzler - Hillsborough Rotary FairSo, in late July someone contacted me asking to add an event onto the annual carnival list; the Hillsborough Rotary Fair. I did a little sniffing around and found that Majestic Midways was (likely) doing the spot and would bring in a good deal of their rides. I’ve seen Majestic before, but only in abbreviated form at the St. Barts Italian Festival in Scotch Plains, NJ. Hillsborough isn’t too far away so on August 15th, I decided to head over and check out the festivities.

Before leaving, I glanced at Google Maps and then winged the 30 or so minute trip. I got a little tripped up as I approached the location; the field I thought the fair was in had no fair! I eventually pulled into a shopping center parking lot and saw a ferris wheel and drop tower in the distance. I then drove in the direction of the fair, navigating the maze of roads that made up the Hillsborugh Promenade strip mall. I entered the fair at about 8:45pm, and the fair had:

… Trip Report: 2013 Hillsborough Rotary Fair

Ferris Wheel - Middlesex County Fair 2013Middlesex County Fair, celebrating it’s 75th year now, is exactly what it says on the tin: the county fair of Middlesex. Aside from the New Jersey State Fair, this is probably the most all around agricultural fair I’ve been to with a good mix of rides and things to do and see. My friend and I had so much fun last year, that we decided to meet up at the fair again this year on August 10th .

I arrived at about 2:30pm after getting caught in some traffic and taking a wrong turn. Let’s face it, Route 18 is almost as bad as Route 22. Admission was $7 and the midway was done by Skelly’s Amusements; the fair had:

… Trip Report: 2013 Middlesex County Fair

New Jersey State Fair 2013From August 2nd to August 11th, the official state fair of New Jersey ran up in the boondocks of northern NJ. While other areas of New Jersey may play the “Jersey” stereotype straight, the area around the Sussex County Fairgrounds are true to the “Garden State” nickname.

The New Jersey State Fair and Sussex County Farm & Horse Show contains just about everything you’d expect at a typical state fair including animals, agricultural exhibits, shows, food, shops, and of course amusement rides. Once again, Reithoffer Shows had the midway and the fair had:

… Trip Report: 2013 New Jersey State Fair

Orange County Fair - Sky FlyerI first went to the Orange County Fair in Middletown, NY in 2007. This turned out to be the only time I would visit until this year. I would plan to go, only to have those plans fall through in one way or another. For example, I was set on going to the fair last year but ended up taking a spill off my bike that resulted in road rash that didn’t get better until late July. This year was also threatened as my car’s brake line blew just before the 26th, the day I had planned to go to the fair. But, alas, it all came together in the end.

I left for the fair at around 3:30pm. I had roughly an hour and twenty minute ride ahead of me. This ballooned to two hours thanks to traffic. The toll from NY Thruway to NY-17 was particularly painful as six or so lanes crunched down to two. I arrived at 5:30pm and redeemed my pre-sale pass at the ticket booth. The pass was $26 bucks and paid for an unlimited rides wristband and admission ($25 and 8$ without the pass.) The ride positions changed a bit from last time, but had about the same rides. The fair had:

… Trip Report: 2013 Orange County Fair

Morris County 4-H Fair 2013I hadn’t been to this fair in a couple of years, so I decided to take the ride over to Chester, NJ on Thursday, July 18th, to check out the first day of festivities at Morris Counties 4-H carnival. In the past, Dreamland Amusements, Amusements of America, and Tolve Presentations have all had the spot, so I was eager to see what the revolving door of shows would bring this year.

The drive was about 35 minutes but felt longer for some reason. As I came over the hill near Chubb Park, I spotted a multi-colored Hurricane. Oh for God sakes, Ace Amusements was doing this fair as well. Obviously a fine choice for this event, but I had just seen them on Sunday and Monday in Berkeley Heights. I like to have some variation in these trip reports, you know? Entrance to the fair was free, but parking was $5. They call it a $5 ‘donation’ so I’m guessing the money goes to local 4-H clubs. The fair had:

… Trip Report: 2013 Morris County 4-H Fair

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