By WARREN DILLAWAY - warren@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
BURTON TOWNSHIP —
The oldest fair in the state of Ohio, The Great Geauga County Fair, kept moving right along Saturday morning as visitors pulled out their umbrellas and went about their business.
“We’ve been coming here for 50 years,” said Elaine Nelisse, of Montville, while walking through the rain with Justin Phillips of Orwell.
Nelisse said her family all showed animals at the fair and the community feel to the fair keeps bringing her back.
She isn’t alone as 40,214 attended the fair Friday night, according to records provided at 188th edition of The Great Geauga County Fair office.
Rain sent many people into exhibit rooms and animal barns Saturday morning as a hard shower pelted the area.
“We’re used to it being rainy at The Great Geauga County Fair,” Nelisse said. She said there are less chickens and beef shown at the fair since she was a child, but there are more horses participating.
Exhibit barns provide numerous opportunities for businesses and civic organizations ranging from hot sauce salesmen to Right to Life groups.
The fair continues today with horse shows getting under way at 8:30 a.m. and a worship service at 10 a.m. in the Junior Fair Pavilion.
One of the highlights of the day will be the 1:30 p.m. Band-O-Rama featuring Geauga County high school bands.
Area firefighters also are scheduled for water battles starting at 4 p.m. in the Main Grandstand. A truck pull also is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the main grandstand.
The fair continues Monday with a variety of entertainment options including the Lake Erie Mounted Vaquenos at noon at the main grandstand.
