A Tilt-A-Whirl, Wacky Worm Coaster, Teacups, Lolli Swings and six other Butler Amusements carnival rides are among the top attractions at this weekend’s St. Mary’s Country Fair.
The old-fashioned fair, which opens to the public Friday, features a midway teeming with kids and families.
“My kids are so excited that the country fair is back even though they don’t go to St. Mary’s,” said Blossom Hill Elementary School teacher Amy Despars. “It’s exciting for them to be able to hang out with their friends, riding the rides and playing games.”
Despars, who is a St. Mary’s alum, attended the fair “all through elementary school and high school. I missed it when I was in college but I moved back to town in 1993 and my husband and I took over the potato booth.”
She described the potato booth as a place where teachers and alumni hang out.
“And it’s not just St. Mary’s alumni, it’s Los Gatos High School alumni, too. It’s for the whole community,” Despars said.
St. Mary’s parish business manager Sharon Aeria agrees, saying the fair “builds community.”
“We have more than 100 volunteers working over the three days, some of whom are parishioners and parents. If we didn’t have volunteers we wouldn’t have anyone to sell tickets, cook or dish out food,” Aeria said.
Want sweet treats? Check. Pizza? Check. Also check burgers and fries, Italian sausage, tri-tip, nachos and, of course, the potato booth. A coffee shop, beer and wine gardens, a margarita booth and a bloody mary/mimosa bar are also on tap.
The Kid Zone features a nectar booth, birdhouse and picture frame decorating, face painting, mini golf, ping pong basketball and a goldfish toss—but don’t fret, the goldfish aren’t real.
Although St. Mary’s students couldn’t help with this year’s fair due to Covid-19 restrictions, they will be putting on a Sunday morning talent show as part of the fair’s vast entertainment schedule.
“We’ve got family-oriented entertainment on the Main Stage like Studio Kicks and Dance Attack performances,” Aeria said.
The Cheeseballs Band, Zac Brown Tribute Band and the Petty Theft Band will also take the stage.
It’s important to note that masks are required.
“This is a masked event, all attendees and volunteers must wear masks except when eating or drinking,” the St. Mary’s website states.
Last year’s fair was cancelled due to Covid-19, so safety protocols will be evident throughout the fair.
“Some of our employees are vaccinated and all our employees wear masks,” said Butler Amusements marketing director Andrea Stillwell. “We’ll sanitize the rides periodically throughout the fair and there’s hand sanitizer in the midway. We encourage social distancing in ride lines and this is a smaller event, so there’s safety in that.”
St. Mary’s is downtown at 219 Bean Ave.
The country fair includes a one-day Harvest Market that will be held indoors on Oct. 7, with 18 vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, garden treasures, handbags, homemade treats and colorful Christmas tree ornaments, among other things.
Admission to the Harvest Market is free from 11am to 4pm. The market takes on a decidedly festive atmosphere in the evening, when there will be drinks, appetizers, a raffle and music from 5-9pm. There’s a $20 entry fee for the evening Harvest Market.
Regular fair hours are Oct. 8, 5-10pm; Oct. 9, 10am to 10pm; and Oct. 10, 10am to 5pm.
Although admission to the fair itself is free, tickets are required for carnival rides, games and food.
Ride wristbands are good for one day only and cost $35 if purchased on site; $30 pre-orders are available through Oct. 7.
Country fair ticket booklets purchased on site are $25 and can be used for Kid Zone activities, games, pizza, burgers and fries, and sweet and frozen treats. Pre-ordered booklets are $20 through Oct. 7.
Pre-orders are online at stmarysfair.squarespace.com.
The fair is cashless this year, so credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal and Google Pay are being accepted.
Funds raised at the fair help fund St. Mary’s parish and school programs and operations.
