This weekend kicked off the Lebanon Area Fair, with the Lebanon Valley Fairgrounds & Exposition Center aswarm with activities for all ages through Saturday and Sunday. With a week to go of food, exhibiting, and events, here are LebTown’s photos from the kickoff weekend of the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair.
Guests at the fair wait in line for milkshakes, French fries, and more. Even early in the day, plenty of people were willing to wait for fair fare.
French fries and milkshakes — two Lebanon Area Fair classics. In a recent interview, chairman of Lebanon Area Fair board Dan Siegel noted that French fries and milkshakes are his favorite foods at the fair, and he once drank 30 milkshakes during one fair season!
“The Eatery” at the Lebanon Area Fair, where guests can get a variety of food options from an indoor kitchen. “The Eatery” can be easily accessed from just outside the Expo Center and it is open earlier than the midway concession stands.
Chicken pita, gyros, teriyaki chicken, and more available at one of the food trucks set up at the fair. Multiple food trucks are set up, carrying desserts, snacks and meals for peckish visitors.
A tent covers several picnic tables so that fair guests can get out of the sun while they eat or rest. There are several locations throughout the fair that guests can get some shade and rest their legs.
Entertainment
The silent auction at the Lebanon Area Fair will be open through Thursday, July 29. Prize baskets were donated by a variety of local businesses and organizations, with trips, gift certificates, experiences, and other unique items up for grabs.Steve Davies of Forever Media broadcasts from the fairgrounds on Saturday, July 24, the first day of the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair. Davies said Froggy Valley 100.1 will have a major presence at the fair with additional live broadcasts planned throughout the week.
Eudora Farms’ petting zoo features a variety of fascinating animals from around the world. Guests can purchase feed and interact with the animals — just be sure to sanitize your hands on the way out!
Alex Cooke sings and plays guitar on stage at the fair, where he performed from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Live music will be performed daily at the fair, with a full schedule available here.
Chicken eggs rest under an incubator, waiting to hatch. As of midday Saturday, no eggs had hatched, but one had started to crack!
A pirate ship ride set up at the fair. Various rides and attractions have been set up for kids and adventurous adults at the fair.
5K
Crossing the finish line to applause and shouts of “USA,” 82-year-old Gregory Kerek of Lancaster completes the Lebanon Area Fair 5K Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, July 24. Kerek said he’s been running for around 35 years and has carried the flag for most of that time.
A results board at the Lebanon Area Fair 5K Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, July 24. The event saw runners and walkers start at the fairgrounds and compete on a route along the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail.Following the race, competitors peruse a selection of folders containing details on other upcoming regional races. Water and chocolate milk were available to runners to help with recovery.Lebanon County Dairy Miss Coriana Bomgardner and Lebanon County Dairy Princess Crystal Bomgardner (profiled previously on LebTown) pose for a picture behind the Lebanon County Dairy Promotion stand at the Lebanon Area Fair 5K Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, July 24. Not pictured is their younger sister, Carissa Bomgardner, who fills out the court as Lil’ Dairy Miss. The court will be participating in events throughout the fair, including a much anticipated ice cream sundae event held fittingly on Sunday, July 25.Pencils with novelty cow erasers were available from the Lebanon County Dairy Promotion stand at the Lebanon Area Fair 5K Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, July 24. The pencils say, “Your milk comes from a good place.”
Car Show
A car show was among the first activities of the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair. Running the gamut from modern performance sports cars to all kinds of vintage and antique cars and trucks, the weather was near perfect for the exposition – with some complimentary chocolate milk passed out by the Lebanon County Dairy Court helping cool attendees down.Eric Phillips and nephew Judah stand in front of a 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT at the car show held Saturday, July 24, on the first day of the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair. Judah happened to be celebrating his birthday as well – happy belated birthday, Judah!It was a family affair for the Shalters who brought their own shade on Saturday, July 24, at the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair car show as two generations show off their vehicles. Does it take a lot of prep to get ready for a show like this? “Of course it does,” your LebTown correspondent was teased. “Lots of elbow grease.” Doug and Anne Bush find a spot of shade next to their 1965 Oldsmobile 442 as they show it for the first at the Lebanon Area Fair car show. The 442 is known today as “Old’s Hottest Number.”Ricky Reigert shows a perfectly staged convertible at the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair car show to the Kelly family. The convertible, Reigert said, requires a lot of maintenance, but after decades of owning, maintaining, and restoring the vehicle, he’s worked out at few enhancements that ensure he doesn’t get stuck out on the road with his top in takeoff position.
Youth Ag
Caught mid-bath, Seth and former Lebanon County Dairy Princess Paige Peiffer (profiled here on LebTown) get ready for the dairy beef and dairy heifer competitions at the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair. Not pictured are sister Skyler and dad Ammon who also assisted in the pre-show suds. “Privacy, please?” – a dairy beef entrant eyes LebTown’s photographer as Seth and Paige Peiffer provide a thorough scrubbing in the livestock wash down area of the Lebanon Area Fair. Not pictured is sister Skyler Peiffer. The Peiffers, like so many Lebanon countians, were looking forward to a return to normalcy at the Lebanon Area Fair, like an impromptu meetup with friends for one of those famous PA Dairymen’s Association milkshakes.The 2021 royal court of the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeder’s Association oversees proceedings at the Youth Rabbit competition held Saturday, July 24, at the 2021 Lebanon Area Fair. The PaSRBA Princess, Duke, and King are known more commonly to their friends and family as Abigail Bell, Levi Bell, and Isaac Bell, respectively.
Setup
Concessioners were beginning to open up their stands as LebTown visited the fairgrounds Saturday morning, July 24, but things only officially opened up at 1 p.m. The Lebanon Area Fair has dozens of food and drink options available, including special events like the chicken barbecue dinner on Thursday, July 29.Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz caught in an impromptu portrait on Saturday, July 24, at the Lebanon Area Fair. Like many Lebanon countians, Litz shared excitement at being able to participate in normal fair activities and was looking for a way to volunteer when LebTown ran into her.Levi and Xander help wash off some 3,600+ potatoes planned for use in the Lebanon Area Fair ham barbecue, which took place Sunday, July 25. Levi and Xander were volunteer participants as part of the Lebanon County Livestock Club.Logan and Chandler helping out with potato washing duties for the Lebanon Area Fair’s ham barbecue. The logistics were organized by Carol Kreider (not pictured), who told LebTown she’s been running the barbecue for 20-some years.
LebTown will be covering the fair all week. Check back for more photos!
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