EAST PALESTINE — Pony rides and a merry-go-round are just some of the new features of this year’s East Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce 131st annual Street Fair beginning on Wednesday.
The fair will take place from Wednesday through Saturday, with Bates Brothers Amusements of Wintersville providing the midway fair rides. New rides also will include bumper cars and the Zipper.
Bates will also provide fair food and local vendors will feature a variety of food, including steak and sausage sandwiches, french fries, corn dogs, and other food and beverages.
Chamber treasurer Bonnie Davis said the chamber is excited to again sponsor the $5,000 raffle, to be drawn Saturday evening. The winner need not be present. There will also be $100 nightly drawings Wednesday through Friday.
Tickets are $5 for six and are being pre-sold at many local businesses and will be available all of the nights of the fair at the chamber tent located on the midway.
Davis said anyone who buys a ticket will also be eligible for the $5,000 or $100 raffle drawings, as a thank-you from the chamber to those attending the fair.
The chamber will also have free nightly drawings Wednesday through Saturday, with prizes consisting of four $5 gift certificates to McDonald’s, a ride ticket from Bates Brothers Amusement, a $25 gift certificate to the Roadhouse restaurant, a pool pass and two $15 gift certificates to Sal’s Ristorante.
Fairgoers can go to the chamber tent to sign up for the free nightly drawings.
Another new aspect of this year’s fair is a bingo tent sponsored by the Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Bingo can be played 5-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with price set at $1 for two bingo sheets, and $10 for a pack of 25 sheets.
Ride tickets are $1 each or $10 for 12, and daily unlimited ride passes will also be on sale for $10 Wednesday and Thursday and $15 Friday and Saturday. Ticket booths will be located throughout the midway.
Live musical entertainment will be provided by the Unity Band and Cody Gibson Band at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday and the Yankee Gray Band and Barstool Mountain Band at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday.
The fair will be open 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, and 1-11 p.m. Saturday.
Davis said the weather forecast is looking good.
“We are all looking forward to it. It’s the highlight of the year. We just appreciate everyone who comes down and enjoys the rides, the food — everything,” she said.
kwhite@mojonews.com