By Carol Tannenhauser
West Side County Fair — the biggest event in the summer-long arts and culture festival called Summer on the Hudson — is happening this Sunday, September 4th, from 1PM – 6PM, in Riverside Park South, Pier I, at West 70th Street.
The fair offers “a day of county fair magic in Manhattan,” according to the Riverside Park Conservancy, “with carnival rides and games, awesome bands, sideshow performers, aerialists, local food and merchandise vendors, cotton candy, a pop-up playground, and more!”
The rain date is September 18th. If the weather is looking iffy on Sunday, check the Summer on the Hudson Twitter feed or visit nyc.gov/parks/soh two hours before the event.
Free!
Sounds like a slightly different version of our normal spring/summer/fall street fairs… Me, I’ll stick to the Esplanade.
A county fair in Manhattan? Do they have a prize for the biggest rat?
I was there for a short time. I couldn’t take the hard rock band blasting their music. Many people walked around plugging their ears. Why would the organizers choose a super-loud band like that? It’s mind-boggling.
Omg I went with my 6 year old & had to leave within 5 minutes. Cotton candy machine was broken, only vendors were an ice cream truck with a very long line & a couple puppet sellers for $30+ each. Plus $5 face painting. There was a small Ferris wheel and the end of the pier that broke with 8 kids stuck inside. It was very hot and no one selling water. It was not free & not fun. There was the blaring rock band though – sounded good to me a 43 year old dad, but my daughter was literally crying b/c nothing for her😢
Too hot Too loud, and too little attractions with only a few booths selling expensive items nobody needs or wants….
A few suggestions
-Don’t plan this for the last Sunday in the summer.
-Sell food that one would expect at a “fair”
-Put the music (band) at the end of the pier
Too bad the Rag wasn’t sent to me until Sept. 5. I frequently get your e-mails too late to be useful. .
I was about to complain about the lateness of the notice which arrived today as someone mentioned, but it looks as if I didn’t miss anything.
The notice was posted in the Rag on September 2nd, although we do not send out newsletters every day, you can always see the day’s news and stories by going to https://www.westsiderag.com
Years ago, this used to be a sweeter affair, with farm animal petting zoo, wooden farm themed photo frames (where the face is cut out), mini rides (like a low key mechanical swing), kids country music, and seating on random bales of hay. You paid for a fistful of animal food, the swing ride, and maybe face paint. It sounds from the recent attendees that the fair has strayed far from its enjoyable origin.
Okay, so I thought the rock band was too loud so I sat in the back row. The musicians were talented but I prefer the old rock that this band reminded me of but with new songs. Yes, the band should have been at the end of the pier.
The second band was also good but reminded me of Boz Scaggs with a female singer.
The best band was the bluegrass/Scots/Irish. They weren’t too loud and the dancers were great, and the people had fun participating at the end.
The Hiphop Juggler from Bindlestiff was fun; I missed the aerialists (did they happen?)
I bought a cool insect necklace; Forgot to ask for a Spotted Lantern Fly, but they’re easy enough to catch.
A petting zoo would have made this overgrown child very much happier, indeed. And maybe some food.