The food drive and fireworks drive-in at the Hamburg Fairgrounds with support from our partners at Lake Shore Savings Bank, Independent Health Foundation, Tops Friendly Markets, WGRZ-TV and The Buffalo News.
The admission will be a bag of non-perishable food to benefit Feedmore WNY. This is a contactless food drive, we will collect the items directly from your vehicle as you arrive. Guests can use both the South Park Avenue and Quinby Drive entrances that will open at 7:00pm.
“We know that the Erie County Fair has been the largest one day summer time food collection for Feedmore WNY over the years,” said Jessica Underberg, CEO of Erie County Agricultural Society. “Opening day has averaged nearly 40,000 lbs. of donations with a record 52,968 lbs in 2019. Although the 2020 Erie County Fair will not be happening, and with the current state of need, we decided to partner once again with FeedMore WNY by combining a food drive with the time-honored tradition of fireworks at the Fairgrounds.”
The fireworks display, produced by Skylighters of Western New York, will begin at 9:30pm on Saturday, August 15, and will last approximately 30 minutes and will be accompanied by music when guests access it through their radio at 1620AM. In the event of rain (or inclement weather), the fireworks will be held on the following Saturday, July 22, same times apply.
“Summer is always a critical time for food donations for FeedMore WNY, but the COVID-19 health crisis has made the need for food drives even more urgent. FeedMore WNY is distributing 54 percent more food to our partner hunger-relief agencies and through our mobile food pantry compared to this time last year. Unfortunately, we do not anticipate the increased need for food assistance to recede any time soon,” Tara A. Ellis, president and CEO of FeedMore WNY, said. “FeedMore WNY is grateful for the partnership of the Hamburg Fairgrounds and the Erie County Fair as we continue our mission. We encourage the community to bring a bag of nutritious food to help feed their hungry neighbors when they come out to safely enjoy Blast Out Hunger on August 15.”
In an effort to follow social distancing guidelines, guests will be parked in every other spot on a first come first serve basis. People will be able to sit inside their vehicle, in front of their vehicle or can use the bed of a pick-up truck to sit in. There will be food vendors on site with snack favorites you have had at the fair before including pizza, kettle corn, funnel cakes, deep fried oreos, deep fried twinkies, frozen lemonade candy apples and more.
For more information, visit www.the-fairgrounds.com or follow Hamburg Fairgrounds on Facebook for updates.
About Skylighters of Western New York
Skylighters is a locally owned and operated professional fireworks company that has been creating memorable pyrotechnics since 1992. The company is owned by Western New York native Matthew Shaw. Skylighters has been providing firework displays at the Erie County Fair since 2014.
About Feedmore WNY
FeedMore WNY offers dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to its Western New York neighbors in need. Through its food bank distribution center and partner hunger-relief agencies, as well as its home-delivered meal program and other targeted feeding programs, FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. More information can be found at www.feedmorewny.org.
About the Erie County Agricultural Society
The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York.
