VAN WERT — The 160th Van Wert County Fair will run from Wednesday through Sept. 5.
“We have a great variety, a little bit of something for everybody,” said Ty Coil, marketing manager for Van Wert County Fair. “We have a lot of great events.”
While the fair is fun for young and old alike, it’s the children who participate in fair activities who learn life lessons.
“I think a really big part is the 4-H and programs for our children. We are really grounded on youth activities and youth groups,” Coil said.
While most people know what to expect at a fair, something new that Van Wert County Fair organizers are doing is a fair preview.
“Something we did last year, and it went over well, is we are doing a day before opening. We have free parking, no gate admission, fair food vendors open. It’s a preview to the fair. This starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Then in the grandstand we are having a show “Bulls ‘N Barrels Rodeo” at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10,” Coil said. “Come on in. It’s a Tuesday evening and something different to do.”
The fair’s official opening is Wednesday. Gate admission is $6 and children 8 and younger are free. A season pass can be purchased for $22.
“New this year is Sponsor of the Day. We have a sponsor every single day of our fair. Everyone was willing to take a day, and it was great,” Coil said. “There are different entities working all as one. They provide activities for family and children based on the theme of the day. For instance Saturday and Sunday is ‘First Responders Day.’ The sponsor is Central Insurance Co. on Saturday and Van Wert County Hospital on Sunday. We are honoring all first responders and we are bringing in equipment, ambulance, fire trucks, police cars. Children and families can see these up close and get photos taken. We are going to be giving away goodies and handouts on how to stay safe.
“We have something happening every day at our grandstand,” he added. “Wednesday we have a calf scramble; Thursday harness racing and Natalie Stovall and The Drive concert; Friday we have the Truck Drag and Pull; Saturday Cheerleading, Motocross and Tug-A-Truck; [Sept. 4] Lawn Mower Drag Racing and the Demo Derby; and [Sept. 5] Horse Racing and Harness Racing.”
Kissell Bros. Shows will be providing the midway rides, as they have in the past. Ride bands and tickets can be purchased in the fair office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
“Ride bands are $13 presale from Aug. 1 to the 27, or $16 during the fair,” Coil said.
There are individual events on the grounds as well, such as the “Fair Brawl V” Bruiser Wrestling Live. Three championship matches starting at 4 p.m. Saturday. Bear Hollow Wood Carvers will be carving masterpieces out of wood. The auction of these creations will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 5. Beginning at noon Saturday and Sept. 4, children have a chance to drive a tractor in an event called Kids Dream Day in the grandstand. This child-friendly event is sponsored by the Van Wert County Farm Bureau.
For a complete listing of events visit http://vanwertcountyfair.com.
By Merri Hanjora
mhanjora@civitasmedia.com
Schedule of events:
Wednesday, Aug 31
8 a.m. Official grand opening
8 to 10 a.m. Broiler and Roaster Weigh-In
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Potted plants and flowers entry
9 a.m. Canned goods judging
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vegetable and horticulture judging
10 a.m. Comm building opens
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Turkey weigh-in
12 to 1 p.m. Sheep weigh-in
1 to 1:30 p.m. Goat weigh-in
1 p.m. Farm products judging
2 to 4 p.m. Potted plants and flowers judging
3 p.m. Midway opens
5 p.m. School exhibit open
6:45 p.m. Flag raising
7:30 p.m. Calf scramble
9 p.m. Comm and Admin buildings closed
Midnight Curfew – fair closed
Thursday, Sept. 1
Kid’s Day! $3 admission for everyone
Happy Veteran’s Day! Veterans and spouses FREE!
Senior Citizen’s Day – Senior citizens age 60 and over FREE!
8 a.m. Gates and admin building open, school exhibit open
8:30 to 10 a.m. Free donuts for veterans and seniors
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Veteran’s service office opens
9 a.m. Turkey show
10 a.m. Comm building open
10:45 a.m. Veterans day parade
11 a.m. Veterans day program
12 p.m. FFA shop & crop judging
12 p.m. Free ham and beans
1 p.m. Harness racing
3 p.m. FFA Vegetable and flower judging
3 p.m. Midway opens
5 p.m. Alpaca demonstration
7 p.m. Erwins
7 p.m. Sheep show
8 p.m. Natalie Stovall concert
9 p.m. Comm and admin buildings closed
Midnight Curfew, fair closed
Friday, Sept. 2
8 a.m. Gates and admin building open
9 a.m. Senior fair horse show
9 a.m. Senior fair poultry show
9 a.m. Junior fair poultry show
9 a.m. Dairy show
10 a.m. Comm building opens
11 a.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
1 to 6 p.m. Singles 100 shoe tournament
2 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
3 p.m. Midway opens
3 p.m. School Exhibit opens
4 p.m. Rabbit show
5 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
7 p.m. Tackets
7 p.m. Truck drags and pulls
8 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
8 p.m. Boer Goat show weigh-in
9 p.m. Comm and Admin buildings closed
9:30 p.m. Lifehouse band
Midnight Curfew, fair closed
Saturday, Sept. 3
8 a.m. Gates and admin building open
8:30 a.m. Dairy feeder show
9 a.m. Open class ponies and draft horses
9 a.m. Double elimination horseshoe tournament
9 a.m. Goat show
9 a.m. Poultry show
9 a.m. Senior fair poultry show
10 a.m. Cheerleading contest
10 a.m. Comm building opens
10 a.m. Senior rabbit show
11 a.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
11 a.m. Boer Goat show
12 p.m. Midway opens
12 p.m. Beef show
12 p.m. School exhibit opens
12 p.m. Horse pleasure show
12 to 7 p.m. Kids Dream Day
12 to 3 p.m. Children choosing Christ
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Kiddie Tractor Pull sign-up
1 to 6 p.m. Singles horseshoe contest
1:30 p.m. Kiddie tractor pull
2 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
2 to 4 p.m. Potted plants judging
4 p.m. Bruiser Wrestling
4 p.m. Van Wert Community Band
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Open to world feeder calf show
5 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
5 p.m. The Minor Blues
5:45 p.m. St. Mary’s Catholic Church Service
7 p.m. Soul’d Out Quartet
7:30 p.m. Animal dress up contest
8 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
9 p.m. Comm and Admin building closed
9 p.m. Nut flush
Midnight Curfew, fair closed
Sunday, Sept. 4
8 a.m. Gates open
9 a.m. Rabbit showmanship
10 a.m. Church service
11 a.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
11:30 a.m. Rabbit show
12 p.m. Midway, Comm and admin buildings open
12 p.m. School exhibit opens
1 p.m. Doubles horseshoe tournament
12 to 7 p.m. Kids Dream Day
1 to 5 p.m. Children Choosing Christ
1:30 p.m. Van Wert County Cattlemen’s futurity
1:30 p.m. Senior fair beef show
2 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
4:45 p.m. Van Wert County market lamb show
5 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
5 p.m. Milk mustache contest
5 p.m. Smoothie activity
5 p.m. 4-H fashion review
5 p.m. Horse contesting
5:30 p.m. Open to the World market lamb show
6 p.m. 4-H presentations
6 p.m. Ryan Trentman Memorial Show
7 p.m. Christian Davis
7 p.m. Demolition derby
8 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
9 p.m. Comm and admin buildings closed
9 p.m. Rob G & the Hired Guns
Midnight Curfew, fair closed
Monday, Sept. 5
8 a.m. Gates and admin building open
8:30 a.m. Swine show
10 a.m. Comm building opens
11 a.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
11 a.m. School exhibit opens
12 p.m. Midway opens
12 p.m. Running races
1 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
3 p.m. Senior fair dairy show
3 p.m. Junior fair horse fun show
3 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving
4 p.m. 4-H presentations
5 p.m. Trinity, Masters Own, Tom Kennerk
5 p.m. Bear Hollow Wood Carving auction
5 p.m. Showman of showmen contest
7 p.m. Harness racing
7 p.m. All non-sale projects released
9 p.m. Comm and admin buildings closed
Midnight Curfew, fair closed
Reach Merri Hanjora at 567-242-0511.