Tri-State Fair Returns with New Attractions, Events
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The fair runs Wednesday through Sunday with a carnival, demolition derby, exhibits, pig races, petting zoos, farmers' market, fireworks and more.
What started as a fundraiser for the Knights of Columbus is on its way to becoming a full-fledged county fair, drawing 10,000 people last year to the grounds and grandstand of the former Green Mountain Racetrack. This year, the fair's founders are hoping to attract 15,000 and are courting a national sponsor that could ensure the festival's future.
"If we end with a good year and we end with them as a major sponsor, it's going to be an annual event," said Joseph DiFusco last week. "We're getting calls from radio stations; last year, we were calling them and now they're calling us."
The fair's focus is to raise funds for nonprofit organizations and charities and provide reasonable and wholesome fun for all ages. That focus on family can be seen in its opening night admission — $25 a carload, vanload, busload.
"I guess we're going to get a lot of vans and buses [Wednesday]," laughed DiFusco. "The dioceses invited all the churches ... you get 50 kids in a bus it's 50 cents a kid."
Even better, said his wife, Wanda, the admission covers all the rides and shows. "At most [fairs], you pay admission to go in and then you pay for the show or ride," she said. "Here, all you have to do is pay for the food, and the concessions are reasonable."
Regular admission Thursday through Sunday is $20 per person; age 3 and under free. Discount coupons of $5 are widely available at area businesses or online.
The DiFuscoes, of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., and John Mills of Cambridge, N.Y., another Knight of Columbus, got the fair off the ground last year with the help of Robert DeStefano of Dreamland Amusements. "Bob DeStefano had a lot of faith in us, and he trusted us," said Wanda DiFusco. "He still does."
DeStefano is back on board this year, too, although the Knights have bowed out.
Instead, the fair will be raising money for San Damiano Family Support, run by the DiFuscoes, and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. St. Francis de Sales/Sacred Heart Parish of Bennington is handling the local concessions."I knew that we needed to raise some money for the Knights," said DiFusco of last year's event. "I figured the only way to bring in big bucks was a carnival."
They were able to raise $10,000 for families who'd lost their homes to fires or were suffering from medical problems. DiFusco said the Knights give away about $125 million nationally each year. But there was difficulty finding volunteers, and St. Francis' Parish stepped in to help this year.
Now a chunk of the proceeds will go to San Damiano, based in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh, N.Y. "We have a medical equipment loan program ... it takes a lot of money to run some of that," said DiFusco. "We run a 24/7 food pantry and we serve people within a 25-mile circle of Petersburgh. We've also been [helping] developmentally disabled young people since last July.
"This money will be used for charity to help offset the expenses we run into but also to help support St. Jude's Hospital. It's nondenominational and if you don't have the money, they'll take care of you anyway."
The fair's organizers have expanded their advertising to blanket eastern New York, Southern Vermont and Berkshire County, targeting homes with children with discounted tickets.
They've also expanded the offerings with the Victoria Circus and its high-wire acts, clowns and motorcycle stunts; a Texas Hold'Em game limited to $100 and 100 players that's expected to attract some of the game's top players; pig races ('nuff said); a cow town show offering hands-on activities for youngsters; tractor and truck pulls; two demolition derbies; cloggers; a 4-H horse show; pony rides and petting zoo; tractors; modified motor vehicles; carnival rides and games; Mountain Man Music with DJ Moose; local and vendor exhibits, and a farmer's market.
WUPE-FM will be broadcasting live on Thursday night and offering a chance to one or more keys that could open the door to a brand-new home. On Saturday night, there'll be a fireworks show at 9:30.
"There's going to be a show going on every hour on the hour," said DiFusco. "There'll be something for them to do just about every minute."
Wanda DiFusco said the group is hoping to grow its agricultural component to turn the event into a real county fair. The potential sponsor, whom the organizers wished not to name at this point in the negotiations, is expected to send representatives to review the fair and "get an idea what we need to make it a bigger and better fair," said her husband.
The fair's future might be bright but its location is still a bit iffy. The owners of the former racetrack want to develop the area, although little has been done to date.
Joseph DiFusco isn't too worried - he's already had offers for other locations.
"The bigger and more well known the fair gets, the easier it will be to find a location," he said. "I think this year will do that for us. If we have to relocate it won't be that hard."
But if it does grow, it will take more than a handful of people to manage it. "Right now it's her and me and John," said DiFusco. "If we're going to continue this, we're going to have to have committees to run it. ... I'd like to sit back next year."
In the meantime, the Tri-State Fair is offering a place for New Yorkers, Vermonters and Bay Staters to have fun together.
"I think the communities are coming together, I think Pownal has a sense of pride at the fact that a little town like that is able to attract people from everywhere," said DiFusco. "We seem to be getting a lot of cooperation from people being willing to pitch in. That's what it's all about."
"We knew it was a good thing. We like and enjoy doing it," said his wife.
The fair opens Wednesday from 4 to 11; Thursday through Saturday, noon to 11; and Sunday 9 to 9.
Editor's note: iBerkshires.com is a sponsor of the Tri-State Fair and is a media partner of WUPE radio.
