The 72nd Annual Sinking Valley Fair is scheduled for September 9-13, with a week of food, prizes and entertainment for everyone.
According to contact person Sarah Long, the fair attracts approximately 400 exhibitors, 6,000 spectators for the week, and the fair committee offers $12,000 in premium money for prize winners.
In the Sinking Valley Fair Premium Book, the general rules state, “There are three entry classifications for the fair: the open division, open to all ages; the youth division, up to 14 and the 4-H and vocational division, ages eight to 19.
“Each class will be filled to capacity on a first-come, first-served basis. All exhibits must be made or grown by the exhibitor during the current year and must be entered in the name of the person making or producing the exhibit.”
Contests include: rabbits, poultry, pigeons, arts, crafts and photography, hay and grain, fruits and nuts, apiary and maple, canned goods, baked goods, floral exhibits, vegetables, needlework, animals and livestock, among others.
Long pointed out three special contests for this year including the Pennsylvania “Simply Delicious” vegetable quick bread contest, the blue ribbon apple pie contest and the Hershey’s cocoa cake and baking chips cookie, brownie or bar contest.
The first prize winners of each contest will be eligible to attend the 2004 Pennsylvania Farm Show Competition. The certified first place winners of the Hershey’s contests will receive a weekend at the Hershey Hotel.
Many other exciting contests are scheduled throughout the fair, including a talent contest, tractor-pulling contest and wheelbarrow race. The contests attract various participants and numerous spectators to make the events a success for everyone involved.
Entertainment is intermixed with the fair activities.
Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. the Weimers provide a vesper service located on the stage. Thursday Vince Peterson will entertain with a sing-a-long for Senior Citizen Day, and at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Crystal Marie will appear on stage. Friday at 8 p.m. A Night with Patsy Cline is scheduled, and on Saturday the country group Midnight Rodeo will perform two shows at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Long said another big event of the fair is the auction, which is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Everything that is left from the fair is auctioned off as well as door prizes from area businesses.
The week-long Sinking Valley Fair offers something for everyone, from games and a moon bounce for children to food and entertainment for adults.
For those interested in more information about the Sinking Valley Fair, Premium list books and brochures are available at Agway in Alexandria, Altoona Library, Linda’s Flowers and Crafts in Alexandria, Sinking Valley Churches, Sinking Valley Grange, Tyrone Milling, Tyrone Area YMCA, Tyrone-Snyder Public Library and Martin General Stores. Information can also be obtained by calling 684-SHOW.
