For some, it would be a pressure cooker; for Perry it's a rocking chair

Mark Perry stands at the entrance to the Exhibition Hall on Sunday as he oversees the fair's setup. (Rochester Voice photo)

There's no one more delighted to be helping out with yet another Rochester Fair than longtime former fair manager Mark Perry.

While this year his title has been for the most part nonspecific, Perry's indelible thumbprint is all over this Rochester tradition, from his unparalleled rapport with visiting vendors such as Fiesta Shows to his uncanny ability to help recruit volunteers from across the city to put this cultural jewel of Rochester on like no one else.

Perry is confident this will be the best Rochester Fair ever, noting that after a one-year hiatus due to financial difficulties, it is absolutely imperative that they outperform the past.

With all the hubbub of putting a major fair together just hours away, Perry remains unflappable and undaunted, full of optimism and opportunity.

"Go big or go home," he quipped on Sunday as he roamed the fairgrounds. "When you're doing a comeback you gotta go big."

An army of 100 volunteers, some putting in eight-hour days, others working as often as they can, is mobilized to make sure folks leave the fair this year feeling more than satisfied with the experience.

"We've had a tremendous show of support from the volunteers this year," Perry said.

Perry predicts this year's midway will be the largest ever. He said the Circus Hollywood tent would probably go up today.

Besides new attractions like the Super Cyclone Roller Coaster and the Miss Rochester Fair Pageant, the fair will have many old favorites return like pig racing, school bus demo derbies and horse pulls.

We hope everyone will come out and support the fair's comeback.

We missed ya.

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