Fun returns to Three County Fairgrounds this weekDate: 9/1/2021 NORTHAMPTON – After a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Northampton’s Three County Fair returns from Sept. 3 to 6.
With preparations for the fair in their final stages, General Manager James Przypek answered questions about this year’s fair over email and he said everyone at the fair is looking forward to seeing people come back this year.
“We are most looking forward to the energy on the fairgrounds with people laughing, smiling and enjoying themselves in a way many of them might not have been able to do for some time,” he wrote.
After announcing the plan to reopen in the spring, Przypek said many vendors reached out about coming back this year.
“Many vendors that are here in a typical year were sure to reach out to us as soon as reopening in the spring was announced and we are happy to provide them an opportunity to market themselves to our fairgoers since they have suffered greatly without public events like this taking place last year,” he wrote.
With a slate of new events this year, Pryzpek said fairgoers have plenty of opportunities to catch a new performance or enjoy a ride in a hot air balloon.
“We are very excited about some of the new additions for this year including ‘America’s Got Talent’ contestant, Wacky Chad! and his stunt comedian shows, Kellie Karl and her Las Vegas comedy hypnotist revues, plus tethered hot air balloon rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, weather permitting,” he wrote.
Pryzpek said this year’s fair evolved into a theme of joy with the performances booked but he said he hopes people check out this year’s rides as well.
“It seems this year’s theme became ‘Joy’ with the comedy shows we have booked, plus kids magic shows, the Melha Shriners clowns and the racing pigs. But what we would love to see people enjoy the most this year are the amusement rides. Again, it has been a tough stretch for everyone and it will be nice to go on a different kind of thrill ride for a change,” he wrote.
Each day of the fair Pryzpek said military and seniors will be treated to a $5 discount and children 11 years of age and younger enter for free.
“We offer discounts for both military and seniors each day of the fair with admission for only $10, a saving of $5. Our fair is a great bargain for families too, as we provide free admission to kids ages 11 and under. And for this year to help welcome back everyone after a very difficult year we are offering free parking too,” he wrote.
To save time, Pryzpek said he is recommending that people purchase their tickets in advance this year.
“We recommend everyone buy their tickets online not only for the discount savings but also to take advantage of having tickets printed out at home or saved to your smart phone for speedy entrance by bypassing the ticket booth and for contactless entry,” he wrote.
Tickets can be purchased online at 3countyfair.com.
Because of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 delta variant, Pryzpek said he is expecting fewer people than in a typical year.
“We are hoping that we have at least 75 percent of our normal crowds during each day of the fair. Attendance is always weather dependent, but we anticipate fewer fairgoers than a typical year as we all continue to work towards a return to normal,” he wrote.
After the Northampton Board of Health implemented an indoor mask mandate for public spaces, Pryzpek said the fair will be following those guidelines.
“We will be following and enforcing the city of Northampton’s indoor mask mandate for public spaces. In addition, we will have face masks available at our entrance ticket booths for those who did not bring their own mask,” he said.
Northampton has since updated its mask mandate to include certain outdoor situations such as crowded areas where social distancing is not possible.
Pryzpek added that the fair is teaming up with the Northampton Board of Health and Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition to conduct an on-site vaccine clinic on Sept. 4 and 5.
With the fair’s return, Pryzpek says he hopes fairgoers realize how important it is to preserve events like the Three County Fair.
“There are a lot of entertainment options for people to choose from right now between the movies, museums, Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, plus other fairs and festivals but we know that for generations our fair has meant so much to so many people,” he said. “We want our fairgoers to take away that traditions like this great late summer fair are worth preserving so we can continue to come together and celebrate the communities we call home.”
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