The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

As you walked along the rows of rides and food stands, vendors selling their wares, and community organizations offering information, one thing became perfectly clear about the Little World’s Fair: it’s consistent and down-home, good country fun.

The Little World’s Fair, alternately known as the Grahamsville Fair, has been around for 130 years, missing just a couple of years along that way because of a flood and a war. This year it took place on August 13, 14 and 15.

And like every good country fair, this year there were all sorts of ways to have fun. Whether you liked  the carnival area with the rides and games, or you chose to mosey through the livestock and small animals area, the 4-H exhibits of clothing, vegetables, flowers, photos and other projects, there was something for every taste.

Speaking of taste, there was “fair food” in abundance – gyros and souvlaki, fried dough and funnel cakes, hamburgers and hot dogs, snow cones and ice cream, ice tea and soda, maple syrup products, and of course cotton candy.

Under the big tent and near the stage, vendors offered their wares. There were jams and jellies, dolls and doll clothing, knick-knacks and toys, leather goods and jewelry. And there was information on driver safety education, water quality, stoneware, home heating products, wood carvings, insurance, the Music Institute of Sullivan and Ulster Counties, local churches and consumer information from Cornell Cooperative Extension.

There was, of course, entertainment galore with music of all kinds, and even an exhibition by a local karate school. 

Up in the livestock and small animal building, children and adults alike delighted in petting the goats and calves, the rabbits and cows.

Small chicks huddled under the heat lamp for warmth, and the chickens and roosters preened themselves while cameras clicked away, recording another successful and fun Little World’s Fair at the beautiful Grahamsville Fairgrounds.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from The 130th Annual Little World’s Fair visit the The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.