Ride the Ferris wheel. Eat chicken nuggets or dance with them. Or watch the crowning of the queen. As of Saturday, this year’s fair is underway.
“You can be of any walk of life. You can have any background. And you can come out, and you can find something to enjoy at the fair,” Dan Siegel, chairman of the Lebanon Area Fair, said.
Siegel then shared his experience watching the fair expand its focus from the agricultural community to include the general public, which has garnered local interest.
The 2022 Lebanon Area Fair will run from July 23 to 30 at the fairgrounds, 80 Rocherty Road.
Read More: For 60+ years, the Lebanon Area Fair has been one of county’s biggest attractions
Fair organizers estimate between 45,000 and 50,000 people on average attend the fair each year. This year’s attendance will depend on the weather, the state of the economy, and similar factors.
Read More: 2021 Lebanon Area Fair saw record-breaking turnout, crowds embrace ag tradition
Siegel, a Lebanon County native, spoke with LebTown about his involvement with the Lebanon Area Fair.
“It was a gradual process,” Siegel said. “I loved going to the fair as a kid. Then, I started volunteering. And it sort of just grew from there. I was asked to be on the board, and then became vice chairperson, and then, I guess it was four years ago now, was voted chairperson.”
A glance at the board of directors tab on the Lebanon Area Fair website revealed the sheer number of volunteers needed for the 66th annual event to occur, including members on committees from awards to waste management.
Read More: Putting on the Lebanon Area Fair is a year ’round job, sometimes more
“I always say, ‘Look, I may be chairperson, but I’m the chairperson of a wonderful group of people,'” Siegel said. “‘People who take the week before or the week of off work. [People who] take vacation time. [People who] plan their lives around being able to volunteer at the fair. They’re the people who keep the thing ticking and put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into it.'”
The Lebanon Area Fair has rows of show animals, rides and games, exhibition booths, and food trucks with multiple events scheduled every day.
“The fair runs its own food stands,” Siegel said. “We have our main kitchen, which has all the mainstays that everybody is used to. We have our bologna sandwich and pork roll booth. And in that booth, new this year, we’re going to have chicken nuggets.” Bell & Evans is helping the booth prepare and sell the chicken nuggets.
Other Siegel’s notable mentions were this year’s entertainment lineup, complete with new acts and returning favorites, such as line dancing with DJ Chicken Nugget.
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