STATEN ISLAND, NY — The Richmond County Fair, an annual highlight of the Labor Day weekend, was booming on opening day with enthusiastic crowds reveling in sunny skies Saturday.
The 42nd annual event in Historic Richmond Town is a festival of fun on the unofficial last weekend of summer before the kids head back to school.
“It’s our annual fundraiser,” said Jessica Baldwin Phillips, general manager of the living history village in the heart of Richmond, referring to the fair that seamlessly blends vintage crafts with modern attractions.
Phillips dubbed the event, which runs through Monday, “the people’s gala,” noting that kids and adults alike can enjoy many free or low-cost attractions after the price of admission.
“We have five bands every day,” Phillips said. “We have our famous eating contests.”
The fritter and chicken wing contests are new for this year.
The fair has a large number of food and drink stands and merchandise for sale.
Bounce houses, pony and carnival rides, games and a walking clown who makes balloon animals are among the many amenities for children.
The Richmond County Fair opened on Saturday, September 3, 2022 and continues from noon to 7 pm each day through Monday, Labor Day, September 5. (Courtesy of Historic Richmond Town)
Annie Wickersty was teaching her daughter, Abigail, how to form decorative leaves from modern tin. Leaves, stars and different shapes were traditionally made from sheet iron that was dipped in a vat of molten tin. The metals were hammered and chiseled into various shapes and welded into the gutters and downspouts of the houses.
Annie Wickersty taught her daughter, Abigail, how to form decorative leaves with modern tin on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund)
Norm Pederson was making the parts for a ladder back chair, which was a very common chair in the mid 1700’s and 1800’s.
“It was pretty easy to make and it was very popular until more high-falutin’ stuff came along in the 1900s,” Pederson said.
One finished chair was made of oak, and Pederson was designing a second chair from an all-wood lathe, a machine typically used by country carpenters in centuries past.
“If you were a carpenter, you could make the machine, not buy the machine,” he said.
Norm Pederson was making the pieces for a ladder-back chair at the Richmond County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund)
Norm Pederson was making the pieces for a ladder-back chair at the Richmond County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund)
Maria Formica was making a basket with a mold. The willow wood was soaked to make it more flexible and bend instead of breaking. Baskets will be sold in the gift shop.
Cristina Diaz, a historic interpreter for Historic Richmond Town who was home for the weekend after attending college at the University of Pennsylvania, was also making baskets.
“I love working here because it’s the kind of experience you won’t get anywhere else,” Diaz said. “I feel very fortunate to be able to learn this and to be able to share it with the public.”
Maria Formica and Cristina Diaz create willow wood baskets at the Richmond County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund) Cristina Diaz, Historic Richmond Hometown Historic Interpreter during the weekend after attending. attending college at the University of Pennsylvania, she was also making baskets.
Victoria Benevento, 7, rode a pony under the watchful eye of her mother, Chrissy.
The Benevent family has been to the fair “many times,” the mother said, adding that her favorite activity is shopping, but her daughter prefers the carnival rides, games and ponies.
Bounce houses were attractive attractions for many young children, including 4-year-old Artur Asadryan.
“I think it’s great and better than last year,” said her mother, Angela Litvinova of the fair. “It’s more interesting for kids.”
Douglas Ball, 4, plays on a slide at the Richmond County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund)
Douglas Ball, who turned 4 on Saturday, was celebrating his birthday at bounce houses with his family, including his father who shares the same name.
“We love the bounce houses, the community atmosphere, and we make it a tradition to come here once a year,” his father said.
“It’s all about the kids,” said Jason Moskowitz, father of 4-year-old Savannah, referring to the fair. “We’ll do all the traveling.”
The Moskowitz family will probably buy food and shop.
“We’re going to have a fun day,” Jason Moskowitz said.
Savannh Moskowitz, 4, enjoys the bounce houses at the Richmond County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund)
Fair hours are noon to 7 p.m. through Labor Day Monday, September 5.
The winners of the contests are the following:
Hot Dog
Miquel HebrantoMike QuintanaGary FlemingHot Dog
cake (adults)
Anthony LopezMikey SpoonsChristian Velez
cake (kids)
Elizabeth SendAdam GayedLucas Morgan and Hayden Lynch (tie)
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