HAMBURG, N.Y. -- The Hamburg fairgrounds are ready for the Erie County Fair, just 2 1/2 weeks after a tornado caused nearly $3 million in damage.
"For us to do things we normally do early on in the year and compress almost 3 or 4 months’ worth of work into 20 days was a major effort," said Marty Biniasz, Erie County Fair spokesperson.
Biniasz says one of the hardest hit areas was the grandstand. He says the last of the repairs were completed Sunday.
"The roof work has been done, our announcer booth has been rebuilt, the air conditioners have been put back on, and the replacement of hundreds and hundreds of panes of glass windows was completed," Biniasz said.
The tumultuous weather ahead of the fair also didn't put a damper on the flower show, which boasts over 1,600 entries this year. Judges will spend Tuesday picking out the best fairy gardens, outdoor gardens and individual horticulture entries to be displayed on opening day.
Gates open at noon on Wednesday.