Ulster County Fair kicks off today

Photo of the Zipper from the 2009 Ulster County Fair, by Flickr user emma.maria. Published under Creative Commons license.

Today, the 124th Ulster County Fair rolls into town, with the requisite smorgasbord of festive trappings: Carnival rides, country singers, racing pigs, and spaghetti and meatballs on a stick. The fair runs from 4pm today through Sunday, August 7, at the New Paltz Fairground.

This year, the fair features country chart-topper Justin Moore, a fresh-faced, big-hatted young thing from Arkansas whose "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" hit No. 1 on the charts last month. Moore will be performing tomorrow (August 3) at 8pm. Also in the lineup: A show called "Agricadabra," which -- if you can't guess from the name -- is a sort of mashup of magic tricks and farm lore.

Admission to the fair is $15 per person over 4, but there are a few special-admission days; tonight, you can bring a carload for $40, and Thursday is free for senior citizens between 10am and 4pm.

Can't get enough heart-stopping, stomach-churning fair action? Check out this YouTube video, taken from the point of view of the Dream Catcher ride at the Ulster County fair in 2009. You can almost feel the G-forces.

Ulster County Fair. County Fairground, Libertyville Road, New Paltz. Tuesday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 7. For more information, check out the Ulster County Fair's website.