Residents in Elmira and Chemung County have had a pretty busy last few days trying to get back to normal. And as a result, our Bill Mich tells us why local officials say the opening of the annual Chemung County Fair Tuesday couldn't have come at a better time.

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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. -- Well there is something you certainly don't see every day in Chemung County. That unique sight is just the beginning of what you may be able to see at the Chemung County Fair.

"That's what I like to see is families out here having fun. Getting a little cotton candy, pizza, the sausage, ice cream, the knick-knacks, the trinkets. Just walk around, seeing the cows," said Alan Hughson, the fair's vice president.

For the 170th year, the Chemung County Fair will be looking to entertain families from across the region. People can expect the various conventional rides and fair foods, but also special attractions like a monster truck show, tractor pull and bull riding event. Attractions that should provide quite a boost to the economy.

"The fair, which draws anywhere from 30,000 to 35,000 people over a five day period, it really does provide a not only a quality of life because people love events and love fairs, it also has an economic factor," said Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli.

And officials are hoping those projected numbers hold up. While the fair can draw people from across the region, residents in Chemung County, and particularly in Elmira, have been very busy the past few days trying to get back to normal after last week's tornado. But now that things have seemed to have settled down, the fair may be the perfect escape.

"We just came off of a really bad experience with a storm, a tornado. Luckily nobody was hurt, but I think our minds have been focused on getting people back on their feet and getting the community back on its feet and I think we're there, we're cleaning up, power is back on and now it's time to enjoy summer," Santulli said.

People have their chance to enjoy summer at the fair until Sunday.

For more information on the fair and the schedule of attractions be sure to visit the fair's official website at www.chemungcountyfair.com.