Middlesex County Fair set to kick off Monday

EAST BRUNSWICK — The Middlesex County Fair kicks off Monday and runs through Aug. 10 at the county fairgrounds on Cranbury Road.

Daily entertainment will feature Robinson's Racing Pigs, Barnyard Express, The Magic of Virgil, Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy, the Great American Frontier Show, A.C.W.A. wrestling and the Party Exchange music show.

The Blood Center of New Jersey will hold blood drives from 5 to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Aug. 9, and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 10. Admission is free for blood donors.

This year will also present a new daily feature, a book drive to replenish the many volumes lost in a July 10 fire at East Brunswick's Memorial Elementary School. Local Girl Scouts Kathleen Hoffman, Emily Kincaid and Deepti Ravi, all 13 years old and members of Troop 80797, decided to run the drive to help the school that Kathleen and Deepti attended.

"They'll be collecting new and gently used books for school-age children," said Kathleen's mother, Patty, a member of the Memorial School PTA.

While much of the school lost books and other supplies due to fire, smoke and water damage, one classroom in particular was hit the hardest. That was the room of fifthgrade teacher Jennifer Smith.

"She had finally reached 1,000 books in her personal classroom library," Hoffman noted. "Having had her as a teacher, the girls really wanted to start replacing some of those books."

The book drive will be held at all times when the fair is open. School PTA members will also be on hand, selling merchandise to raise money for school supplies.

The fair will open at 5 p.m. Monday. An opening ceremony will be held at 6 p.m., with Farmer of the Year Jim Giamarese and Volunteer of the Year Kathy Donahue. At 7 p.m., there will be a king and queen and princess contest. Fireworks will be at 9:15. Roux Bedrosian and Band will perform at 10 p.m.

Special events on Tuesday will include the Alluring Ballroom from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Ed Goldberg & the NJ Polka Band at 8:30 and 10 p.m.

On Wednesday, Jeanna Miglioring will perform at 6 p.m., and the Amish Outlaws will play at 8:30 and 9:45 p.m.

Topcat Tunz Karaoke will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 to 11 p.m. Aug. 7. Icon Dance is set for 8 p.m. that evening.

On Aug. 8, Satori Academy of Martial Arts will demonstrate at 6 p.m. Dance Carousel will perform at 7 p.m., and the Ridgemont High Band will play at 8 and 9:30 p.m.

St. Peter's University Hospital will have blood and sugar testing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 9. Kids Day games and activities will run from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Trenton Devil Thunder's mascot, Scorch, and Grant Marshall, Stanley Cup winner from 1995, will be on hand from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and Planet Pets from 2 to 3 p.m. The Elite Martial Arts Academy will perform at 3:30 p.m.; a talent show from 4 to 5 p.m.; Rhythm In Motion 4-H Cloggers at 6 p.m.; and After the Reign Country Band from 8 to 11 p.m.

On Aug. 10, a dog and cat contest will be held from 11 a.m. to noon; Academy Music PG13 Band at 1 p.m.; Legend All- Star Cheer Flip Over Gymnastics at 2:30 p.m., and the Captain Crunch Band from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Admission to the fair is $6 for adults; $4 for seniors age 65 and over; $1 for kids age 3-12; and free for kids 2 and under. Payone price ride tickets will be available for $15 on Monday, and Aug. 9 and 10.

Numerous 4-H attractions and events are scheduled each day. For a full schedule, visit www.middlesexcountyfair.org/4h.htm