Friendly Competitions at the Warren County Farmers’ Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival
The Warren County Farmers’ Fair has always been a place where friends and families came together to celebrate agricultural roots. Today the event has grown into a place to make some noise with tractor pulls, an antique tractor parade and carnival rides. The Fair will start on Saturday, July 30 and run through the following Saturday, August 6, 2016.
This year the Fair will kick off with the Warren Hills Club Wrestling Tournament, beginning at 8 am and going through 6 pm. The competition is normally held on closing day, Saturday; but this year it is opening the Fair. Spectators please note that while the gates will be open for the competition and admission will be charged, most exhibits, commercial buildings, and rides will not be up and running until the official opening of 12 noon.
Registration to participate is online and the link may be found on the Fair's website at www.warrencountyfarmersfair.org, and then clicking on Rules & Regs. tab.
There you will find a variety of other contests and competitions, for all ages, interests and talents.
A sampling of contests in the Home & Garden building range from grown or canned fruits and vegetables, to the arts like amateur photography and handwork. Show off your creativity in the Scarecrow or Egg Decorating contests.
Livestock Competitions include beef cattle, steer, and dairy breeds. Horse Shows include Western and English riding styles. Students involved in 4-H and FFA Programs are invited to participate in a variety of contests and competitions throughout the 8-day event.
Not just for farmers or gardens (or humans) – new this year is the Pitiful Pooch contest. Judges are joined by celebrity guest judge, Internationally Acclaimed Pet Couturier, Anthony Rubio. The show is open to all US Resident Pooches. You can pre-register or register the day of the show, however contestant owners who pre-register before July 20th will receive a weeklong complimentary pass to the Fair.
The Main Arena “Power Events” are always popular for those that like to show off some power combined with driving skill on a tractor, ATV or in a truck or car, with two Demolition Derbies, various tractor pulls, truck pulls and mud bogs.
The “Power Events” aren’t just for adults. Little ones can show off the same in the Kiddie Pedal Pull, Youth Pedal Obstacle Course or the Big Wheel Race.
Show off some muscle in the Frying Pan Throwing and Hay Bale Rolling contests. Or show off some muscle cars in one of the Car Shows. Own a truck? We have a Truck Show for that.
And while most readers do not have a license to fly a hot air balloon, visitors may delight in assuming the role of spectator for the Hare & Hound Balloon Races or the Bicycle Balloon Race, which will be fundraising for scholarships honoring the original organizer of the Balloon Festival at the Warren County Farmers’ Fair.
Listed is just a small sampling of over 60 different contests with multiple divisions and categories. Be sure to check out the Rules & Regs page online to see if you are eligible to participate, as some are restricted to Warren County residents and some are open to all participants.
Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12 and ages 4 and under are free. Parking is also free.
For directions, schedule of event and other information visit the Fair website at www.warrencountyfarmersfair.org, or call 908-859-6563.
Balloons powered by AmeriGas. Supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. (visitnj.org)
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Giulia Grotenhuis
908-283-0721