Carnival & Fair Buzz

HAMBURG, NEW YORK – After a four-year hiatus, the James E. Strates Shows will return to the rails moving a portion of its carnival to Hamburg (Buffalo, New York) in preparation for the 184th Erie County Fair. Arrival of the world's only carnival show train will take place on Thursday, August 1, 2024. This year marks a special year for Strates Shows and the Erie County Fair as the two organizations commemorate a 100-year partnership. This exclusive relationship is a historical milestone in the modern amusement industry and is considered the longest continuous run of any one carnival midway and any one fair in the United States.

For decades, the annual arrival of the “Fair Train” has been a highly anticipated occasion for fairgoers, as the arrival of the colorful freight train filled with amusement rides is a signal that opening day of the Erie County Fair is just days away. Train Day came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but this year fairgoers and train fanatics alike can enjoy the return of this special celebration which coincides with the momentous 100-year anniversary. Strates Shows rail cars have been mechanically overhauled and cosmetically restored for its return, including the application of retro-inspired color scheme and lettering. The James E. Strates Shows is regarded as the operator of the last “show train” in the world.



EVENT DETAILS
The “Train Day” celebration will take place at the Historic Erie Depot in the Village of Hamburg located at 4 Scott Street. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. with an anticipated train arrival between 11-Noon. A brief ceremony with local officials will take place following the train's arrival. While guests await the thrilling entrance of “Fair Train,” they can enjoy entertainment from the Erie County Fair's Pepsi All-Star Band and visit with local vendors.




100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
The relationship between Strates Shows and the Erie County Fair began on December 16, 1923, when James E. Strates mailed a letter to the Erie County Agricultural Society soliciting the Erie County Fair's business. The two-page letter was the start of this special 100-year relationship providing high quality family entertainment to fairgoers in Western New York. On August 25, 1924, Southern Tier Shows (now known as James E. Strates Shows) began providing the midway and carnival to the Erie County Fair. Today, Strates Shows remains a family-run business in its fourth generation. Strates Shows brings over 70 rides, games and vendors to the midway each August during the Best 12 Days of Summer in Hamburg, NY.