First Posted: 6/12/2013
The Northeast Fair opens Tuesday, June 18 and continues through Sunday, June 23 at the fairgrounds off Route 315 in Pittston Township. The fair opens at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; Friday is group and family day and their fair opens at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday the fair opens at 1 p.m. with a special $7 gate admission from 1 to 4 p.m. that is valid until late night closing.
Last year’s record-breaking attendance at the Northeast Fair broke the prior year’s record and exceeded attendance the year prior to that.
“The same is expected this year, weather permitting.” said fair chairperson Joe Aliciene. “More and more people are discovering the Northeast Fair each year and what a great family value it is. We have people that travel hours to get here and they rave about how low the admission price is for all this is included. Virtually all say they spend more money on just three or four rides at other events than for unlimited rides and all of the other activities and shows at the Northeast Fair. For families with young children and teens, this is a just a tremendous value.”
The active fairgrounds consist of about 18 acres and, with another expansion this year of additional events, concessions, presentations and rides, the fairgrounds are now very near full capacity. In addition to the 18 acres of fairgrounds, there is an additional 25 acres for parking with more available if necessary.
Expedited parking entry gate procedures have been implemented this year, along with the addition of three new entry gates on the east and north ends of the fairgrounds, to speed entry on the busiest evenings of Friday and Saturday and to eliminate or significantly reduce any traffic backlog.
The biggest new thing at the 2013 fair is a Monster Truck freestyle competition at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday with a driver autograph and picture session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the pit area. Monster trucks Aftershock and Crazy Train will be at the fair, where they will drive over and crush cars and vans and soar over 30 feet into the air.
Motorsport continues at 8 p.m. on Friday with a Double Figure 8 Auto Race followed by a Compact Car Demolition Derby. A full size car Demolition Derby will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday where both modified and stock cars will be totally destroyed with a driver in them until only one champion remains.
There are currently 27 rides scheduled to be erected on the grounds, divided into categories of kiddie, family, major, spectacular and super spectacular. Reithoffer Shows supplies rides to the fair. With an inventory of about 100 rides, each year many rides from the prior year are rotated out with new rides, so there is always a new look and new thrill.
Family shows have been expended this year to include an exotic animal presentation and petting zoo. Robinson’s Racing and Swimming Pigs should be a huge hit with fair goers.
Concerts have been expanded to include two shows with Elvis Tribute Artist Shawn Klush on Thursday and Sunday evenings. Other concerts include Jam Stampede, a Grateful Dead tribute band, the Caribbean and reggae sounds of George Wesley and the always popular cast of Beatlemania.
Gate admission to the fair is $10 and includes unlimited free rides, free parking, all concerts, all family shows, exhibits, educational segments and motorsports.