New stage for performances under construction at Fairgrounds
Photos by Tom Rivers: Tim Gregoire, right, of Tim Gregoire Construction in Holley and Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, look over progress on a new addition and stage at the Curtis Pavilion at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
KNOWLESVILLE – When the Orleans County 4-H Fair returns in late July, there will be a new stage and location for the popular karaoke, talent show, and other concerts.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension is using a stage grant to put an addition on the Curtis Pavilion which will include a stage, six dressing rooms and a sound booth.
The concrete has been poured a 2-foot-high wooden stage wooden epoxy will be added. The Extension currently has to pay about $2,000 each fair to rent a tent and stage.
Robert Gregoire, Tim Gregoire’s son, screws in metal wall sheeting on the addition.
The state in 2016 set aside $5 million to help county fairs with capital improvements. Orleans received about $96,000. The new stage and addition at the Curtis Pavilion is costing about $83,000. The grant also paid for electrical upgrades for campsites.
Tim Gregoire Construction of Holley is well ahead of schedule on the project. Gregoire has until July 1.
The project includes an electrical upgrade in the pavilion and the installation of stage lighting.
The new addition looks like a pole barn to blend in with most of the other barns at the fairgrounds.
Robert Batt, executive director of the Extension, said the site will also be used for agriculture education programs as an outdoor classroom. He also would like to see other concerts held at the Curtis Pavilion outside of the busy fair week.
Batt said the Extension has applied for another $96,000 state grant for fairgrounds improvements. The Extension wants to replace four or five wooden bleachers with new metal ones. The Extension also has applied to use part of the grant for new animal stalls, lighting upgrades and also a new “show plex” for animal shows.
Ayman Huzair, then 21, performs during the karaoke finals in July 2015. Huzair won the competition singing a medley of songs from Michael Montgomery, Bruno Mars and Cupid. The karaoke competition this July will be held on the new stage at the Curtis Pavilion.
