Visitors to this year’s country fair will have the opportunity for a brief respite from the crowds by paddling a canoe or a kayak on Black Creek thanks to a new vendor, Padillac Boats.

Owner Barry MacNaughton, of Hilton, will be setting up a booth in the vendor area with signs and literature instructing anyone interested to venture past the tractor pull to the creek, where he will have five canoes and two kayaks ready to try for $4 per half-hour.

MacNaugton will provide life jackets, paddles, and the "basic do’s and don’ts." He said the usual rate is $10 per hour, but to get exposure to people who may have never tried it before, he will discount at the fair.

"This is a new business for me," MacNaughton said. He said he has done a lot of boating, but "quiet-water" boating is a new passion. "It’s non-pollution, environmentally-friendly."

MacNaughton said Black Creek is a great place to boat, and the area near the fairgrounds is particularly calm for learning. "Churchville is beautiful, a great place," he said.

Churchville Lion Moira Miller, who helped organized the arts and crafts area for this year’s fair along with Lion Nancy Steedman, said it is not hard to find vendors. "They usually find us," she said.

Miller said potential vendors always ask how many people attend the fair, and because no one knows for sure, she says she conservatively guesses 5,000. "They don’t believe it and I say ‘You come and you’ll see."

Other booths making a first-time appearance this year include: Sanger Farms, with homemade pies, cookies and fresh produce; a vendor from Livonia with homemade fudge and lollipops; real maple syrup from Alexander, NY; and Allouette cosmetics.

Returning this year will be Susan Onderdonk offering chair massage, lots of wood crafts, jewelry, ceramics, pillows, Pampered Chef, Princess House, candles, homemade mustards, hot sauces and spices and lots more. Miller said booths will be open until at least 5 p.m. both days, some will be open as late as the fireworks on Saturday.