Union County Fair Returns this Fall with Fun, Flair and MusicFest

Pop icon Blondie will take the stage for a free concert at the Union County Fair featuring the 14^th annual MusicFest this fall on Saturday, September 17. The legendary hitmakers, inducted into the prestigious Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, will perform fresh new tracks from their 9^th studio album Panic of Girls and great hits throughout their illustrious career.

The Union County Fair starts on Wednesday, September 14 and runs for five days through Sunday, September 18 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark, featuring free music every day. Band announcements will be ongoing. For continuous updates visit theucfair.org, ucmusicfest.com, and facebook.com/musicfest, or follow the County Fair and MusicFest on Twitter, ucnjmusicfest.

“The Union County Fair, featuring MusicFest, is our premier community event and it has also become a major regional attraction,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “Last year 80,000 Union County residents and visitors came together to enjoy the festivities and the free music, and our local business community benefitted from all the activity.”

The Union County Fair includes a five-day carnival with a full scale Ferris Wheel and other popular rides along with free MusicFest concerts on multiple stages, including hometown favorites, national touring acts, and international stars.  As in previous years, one stage will be devoted entirely to local musicians.

“On behalf of the Freehold Board I would like to thank our many sponsors in the business and non-profit community for making The Union County Fair possible,” said Scanlon. “Their generosity helps to defray the cost of MusicFest, which keeps the music free and open for all to enjoy.”

Overlook Hospital returns as the presenting sponsor for the third year.  Other major sponsors include Kean University, TD Bank, Crossroads, Union County Performing Arts Center, Crowne Plaza, Elizabethtown Gas, Verizon Wireless, and Union County College.

For the fourth year in a row, the Union County Fair will partner with the Love Hope Strength Foundation to raise funds to fight cancer, and to register potential bone marrow donors. The Union County Fair has already registered over 1,000 people on the international bone marrow registry, with twelve potential life-saving matched identified.

Many popular Union County Fair attractions are returning this year, including: 

• ·         Kids Kingdom Traveling Jubilee featuring free and modestly priced children’s activities and free children’s performances.
• ·         The Love Hope Strength 5-K Rock ‘n’ Run and Rock On! Walkathon, raising funds to fight cancer.
• ·         Daredevil bike stunts from the Hell on Wheels BMX bike team.
• ·         The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County with an expanded Harvest Contest and community information on gardening, wellness, and 4-H youth clubs.
• ·         More crafts and unique items for sale at The Marketplace.
• ·         An expanded Green Village featuring interactive exhibits on energy and resource conservation.
• ·         Dozens of food vendors and displays by local businesses.

Band announcements will be ongoing. For continuous updates visit theucfair.org, ucmusicfest.com, and facebook.com/musicfest, or follow the County Fair and MusicFest on Twitter, ucnjmusicfest.

For information on the Love Hope Strength 5-K Rock ‘n’ Run, Rock On! Marathon, and bone marrow registry, visit the Union County Love Hope Strength Association, uclovehopestrength.com.

Prospective vendors and sponsors can contact Cherron Rountree, Director, Union County Division of Intergovernmental Policy and Planning, 908-527-4200 or crountree@ucnj.org