Fair ambassador will savor fair's first ride, in a police cruiser to the grand opening

From left, Annette Plaisted, Cathy Costanzo and Fair Ambassador Joel Sherburne inside an Exhibition Hall packed with exhibits from local artisans. (Rochester Voice photos)

Editor's note: Today's opening of the fair is at 3 p.m.

ROCHESTER - When longtime Rochester Fair Ambassador Joel Sherburne arrives at the head of the Fairgrounds today at 3 p.m. after a ride down Lafayette Street in a Rochester Police cruiser - sirens wailing and lights flashing - the rebirth of the 142-year Rochester tradition known as the Rochester Fair will officially be complete.

And no one will be more joyful than Sherburne, who has been coming to the Rochester Fair since he was in high school and has served as the fair's ambassador for 20 years.

"Last year was very difficult, very difficult," said Sherburne on Wednesday as he looked over Exhibition Hall exhibits overseen by Annette Plaisted, the craft department supervisor. "But we fought and fought, and it's terrific that it's opening back up."

HEY ROCHESTER, YOUR RIDE HAS ARRIVED: One of the Midway rides ready for assembly Wednesday afternoon at the Fairgrounds.

Plaisted, who worked in the Exhibition Hall for many years, said they were cleaning and sprucing up the Exhibition Hall before the fair got its OK to use the hall from the City of Rochester just days ago, just in case.

She said as soon as its approval was announced she began emailing volunteers and the response was "incredible."

On Wednesday afternoon dozens of volunteers were working on exhibits, which filled the hall like never before, a beaming Plaisted said.

The Rochester Fair this year will run today through Sept. 16, while taking next Monday-Wednesday off, thus giving it two full weekends.

The Midway, grandstand and agricultural aspects of the fair will be equal if not better than in recent year, former longtime fair manager and this year's fair organizer Mark Perry has said. For more info go to rochesterfair.com.

Meanwhile, Sherburne, who hails from Barrington where he's worked some 60 years at Calef's Country Store, says he can't wait to take that ride down Lafayette to the Fairgrounds to open the fair one more time.