BLOOMSBURG -- The vendors are cooking and the gates are open. It is time for the 159th annual Bloomsburg Fair.
"Well we came for the food, of course! And to see everything else, the animals and exhibits," Helen Turri said.
The Bloomsburg Fair is billed as the largest one in Pennsylvania, and Preview Day is a chance for people to enjoy it without the large crowds.
"It's easier with our son and it isn't as crowded. We'll come up during the week also," Top Hepler said.
"For us it would be less crowded. As a class we get to see the behind the scenes. We get to see the animals coming in and we get to go at a slower pace with the kids today so they can enjoy more things and they can see more things," Bonnie Celmer-Batiuk said.
Preview Day is also a less expensive way to enjoy the fair. Admission was $3, and free before 2pm. It is also a practice day for vendors.
"Today's a good set up day to figure out what we need that we don't have," Cheri Bissinger said.
The Bloomsburg Fair had two major acts cancel: ZZ Top and Duck Dynasty, but the fair's president says they already replaced those acts and they're working to refund people's tickets.
"A lot of it was on credit card which we took care of right away. The cash customers are taken care of, but it's a strain on our employees," Paul Reichart said.
But many people say food is the reason they come to the Bloomsburg Fair.
"He likes sausage and peppers. I like the greasier stuff like the onions and french fries," Turri said.
"The homemade ice cream stand," Hepler said.
The Bloomsburg Fair runs through next Saturday. It costs $8 to get in.