Just when you thought it was safe to go on that diet, it's fair season. And on Tuesday, the county's largest and oldest opens its midway.
The 89th annual Ephrata Fair, billed as Pennsylvania's largest street fair, will fill downtown Ephrata with the scents and sounds of fried food, game venders trying to lure players and curb-to-curb crowds.
Begun in 1918 to honor returning veterans of World War I, the fair has grown from simple store-window displays to an extravaganza of games, food stands, rides and livestock shows that covers Ephrata's entire business district and its community park.
Ephrata's Main Street between Lincoln and Park avenues and State Street from Walnut to West Franklin streets will be closed to traffic Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The midway will open Tuesday at 11 a.m., with food venders trying to entice the lunchtime crowd with their fares. Rides will open at 6:30 p.m. and feature an all-you-can-ride deal for $14. A $1-off coupon is available at the fair office, 19 S. State St.
At Tent City in Grater Park, market-goat judging will begin at noon, dairy beef at 2:30 p.m. and swine judging at 5 p.m. A petting zoo will be open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day except Wednesday and Saturday, and pony rides will be available Tuesday and Friday.
Also Tuesday, antique-tractor games will start at 7 p.m., and at 8 p.m. the squeals of greased pigs — and the kids who chase them — will be heard.
Wednesday is parade day as the 74th annual fair parade steps off from Ephrata High School at 7 p.m. The sound of the Mummers' Day Parade in Philadelphia will return again with the Avalon String Band.
During the day, senior citizens will get free coffee, tea and cookies at the fair office from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Entertainment also will be provided at the bingo tent at the railroad station, and seniors can buy reduced-price food from participating vendors. To take part, seniors must get a badge from the fair office.
In the park, lamb judging will start at 1 p.m., and agriculture demonstrations will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The midway will open at 10 a.m. and the rides at 4 p.m.
Thursday is Kiddies Day. Schools are out, and the rides will open at noon and be discounted until 6 p.m.
At Tent City, dairy cattle judging will get under way at 10 a.m., followed by pygmy goat judging at 2 p.m. The livestock auction begins at 6 p.m., and the popular tug of war at 8 p.m.
At 7 p.m., the alternative band Unsettled will appear on the stage set up behind the railroad station/visitors center.
Rabbit judging in Tent City will be held Friday at 5 p.m., followed by the antique tractor pull at 6:30 p.m. Family fun contests and calf dressing kicks off at 6:45 p.m.
The midway will open at 11 a.m. and rides at 4 p.m. On the entertainment stage, the music of the Nomads will take folks back to the 1950s and '60s. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday, the fair's final day, will start at 8 a.m. with a quoits tournament in park.
Registration for the annual baby parade will start at 11 a.m., with the parade stepping off at 1 p.m.
On stage Saturday night, the New Holidays will sing tunes from the 1950s through 1980s. The show starts at 7 p.m.
For those traveling between Tent City and the midway, free shuttle bus service will be provided.
The shuttle will stop at the park and at the corner of South State and West Franklin streets. Buses will run from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Also on Wednesday only, there will be an additional stop at Cornerstone Mennonite Church at Oak Street and Sunset Avenue.
Profits from the five-day fair benefit local civics groups. Last year, $4,700 was distributed to local organizations.
E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com