By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
UPPER FREEHOLD — The 9th annual Freedom Fest State Fair, one of the summer’s premier agricultural and family entertainment events, opens on Tuesday at its new location, the Reed Recreation Park on the Route 526 bypass.
The event lasts for six nights and features live music, an international food court, games, contests, rides, and fireworks. Tickets cost $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, $3 for children 5 –13. Free admission is given to children 4 and under and to military personnel with valid identification.
Reithoffer Shows, which offers the largest traveling midways in the Northeast, will return this year, according to Nick DeMauro, the fair’s volunteer president. A special “Ten Buck Tuesday” promotion on July 12 allows fair-goers to ride all the rides all night long for $10.
Freedom Fest will also have an exhibit featuring animals from six continents, agricultural demonstrations, a wolf show, horse-riding shows, racing pigs, magic shows, and top-notch entertainment, Mr. DeMauro said.
A scheduling problem prompted the switch from the Horse Park, which had been the venue for the fair since 2007. The fair’s new centralized location puts it within walking distance to many neighborhoods in Allentown and Upper Freehold.
Upper Freehold and Allentown residents are being offered free admission tickets at their respective municipal buildings for designated days: Saturday, July 16 for Upper Freehold residents and Sunday, July 17 for Allentown residents.
The fair is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday; and from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. For more information and coupons for discounted ride tickets, visit the fair’s website at www.freedomfeststatefair.com.
