Ocean County Fair Is One For The Ages

BERKELEY – After debuting 77 years ago, the Ocean County Fair provided timeless fun for people of all ages.

Campy’s Blue Star Amusements brought rides again, with a variety that went from high-flying to low-riding for any age or thrill level. Thursday night and Sunday afternoon were set aside for unlimited rides with the purchase of a wristband.

Food trucks were a welcome addition to the usual fried food offerings. Some other vendors offered cold drinks or snacks.

The 4-H tent was, as usual, a highlight of the fair. There, you could see the animals that children had raised throughout the year.

One table had ducklings that were born during the fair. They were tiny, fluffy little critters that seemed fine with being handled and pet.

At the horse stables, one enterprising family had a fundraiser: a $2 kissing booth with a pony. Bandito had been a racehorse who had a pretty good career before being rescued. Now, he has a sweet disposition and was more than happy to meet new people, said Tara Reilly. Her son, Carson Brash, is a third generation horse owner.

There were more 4-H categories than animals and agriculture. Displays showed off kids’ talents in art, STEM, ballet and more.

The shooting sports were also represented. Targets were set up on one end of the fairground.

Josephine and Joe Wills of Brick found a spot in the shade of the 4-H tent where they could watch their grandson practice archery as part of the Bowbenders. Joe had also performed earlier in the week as part of the Libby Prison Minstrels historical band.

Musicians have always been a staple for the fair, and there was no shortage of music this year. Bands were scheduled for each day, in addition to smaller acts performing throughout the event.

They weren’t all musical acts. Some were demonstrations of skill. A chainsaw carver made a number of beautiful sculptures while people watched. The pieces were then offered for sale.

In between the stages and shows there were rows of booths. Some were local businesses trying to reach out to people. Others sold crafts, clothes or jewelry. Government entities also use the fair as a time to educate the public about what they do.

Brick Wenzel, from America’s Gleaned Seafood program, extolled the virtues of the non-profit which collects unused seafood from fishing businesses and uses it for protein-rich meals for those in need.

“The Ocean County Fair is all about youth and agriculture,” he said. The donations they were taking were going toward the 4-H and local youth programs.

John Horning, yard manager for the fair, said that the weather hit the fair hard this year. It was either raining or extremely hot.

Wednesday and Thursday were still good days, with clear skies. However, Friday was rainy throughout. There was still some rain around the county Saturday morning, which might have pushed some families away if they worried about walking through the mud. Weather reports on Sunday called for thunderstorms which never happened.

“With only five days, you cross your fingers and hope,” he said. Fortunately, Wednesday and Thursday were good days for the fair.

One group that descended upon the fair were pirates. They were a bit of a theme throughout the event, featuring roving bands of scurvy dogs. They weren’t there for plunder, but to sing sea shanties, get their picture taken, and interact with the public without ever seeming to break character.

Ye Olde Durty Rotten Parrots serenaded passersby with sea shanties. Pirate Dan drove a “boat” that made bubbles through the fairground before his show. He was stopped for a picture by the Sea Scouts out of Little Egg Harbor.

The Sea Scouts are a division of the Boy Scouts, but they focus on a nautical theme, said skipper (scoutmaster) Bill Murphey. The troop is small but dedicated – some of the boys come from an hour away for meetings. The scouts learn about navigation and even lend a hand in maintaining boats.

At the fair, they had a booth to inform folks about their unique organization. Since the fair draws people interested in agriculture and other parts of the natural world, it is a good place to talk to potential recruits.