BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — In a little over three months, thousands of people will walk through the gates for the 169th Bloomsburg Fair. We already know one big change to Pennsylvania's largest fair. For the first time, beer will be sold in the grandstand.
"If you have a ticket to come to a grandstand show, you will be able to purchase alcohol—beer, Yuengling products—at a certain location. We're going to have a limit on how much you can purchase at one time," said Brian Wawroski, the superintendent of the grandstand at the Bloomsburg Fair.
Wawroski says beer will not be sold on the actual fairgrounds, only the grandstand for events like concerts, the demo derby, rodeo, and tractor pull. The only night it won't be available is Sunday, when the fair has a Christian concert.
Wawroski says this is a way to bring in more money for the fair.
"We still want to make it a family environment, but people going to the concerts, I've been here seven years now, and hear a lot of people saying, 'Are you selling beer?' Even entertainers, 'You don't sell beer here?'"
People we spoke with were OK with the fair selling beer at the grandstand.
"I think if it's restricted to certain events and they're careful about who they sell to, I'd be OK with that," said Rosemary Leeming from Elysburg.
"I think it's pretty much consistent with what other places do," said Jim Maneval of Lewisburg. "I think it's not a bad idea."
This year's Bloomsburg Fair runs from September 20 to September 28.