The 4th annual Cortland Community Matters Fair will be this Sunday, September 3rd at Suggett Park from 12 to 4pm. The event is free and open to the entire community with events for kids and adults with this year’s fair bigger and better than ever with 1,000 people expected to attend.
This year, Community Matter Fair organizer Apryl Beatty says there will be 50 stations with a large variety of activities, programs, and benefits community members can experience. Beatty says more businesses will be participating in this year’s fair. She continued on by saying there will also be 2,000 water bottles available and sunblock available for those attending.
“This is not my first rodeo.” Said Beatty when asked about how planning and organizing was going for this year’s fair.
A few activities and events to note for this year’s fair include the Musical Creation Station, Water Balloon Baseball, Water Balloon Corn Hole, Balloon Animal Making, and a pizza tasting contest.
The Musical Creation Station will give kids the opportunity to play an instrument. Beatty says there is $50,000 worth of instruments for kids to play including harmonicas, drum sticks, flutes, kazoos, and tambourines. The Musical Creation Station will also be in honor of Noah Cole, who was known for his love of music. Kids participating in the station will also have the opportunity to take home an instrument of their choice.
Attendees will also put their taste buds to work with a pizza tasting contest. So far, 6 area pizza shops have joined in the challenge of who will be voted the best pizza in Cortland. The winner receiving free advertising and a plaque to hang in their establishment.
“This [event] allows us to come together as a community.” Apryl Beatty said about why this event is so important for her.
With the event being right before the start of the school year, the fair will again host a backpack and school supplies giveaway. There will be 500 binders, 200 backpacks, and loads of pens, pencils, crayons and more to give to kids about to begin their school year. For the backpack giveaway, the child must be present in order to receive a backpack.
You can learn more about Sunday’s event at Suggett Park and see other activities on their Facebook Page, Cortland Community Matters.
