Members of the DeKalb County Fair Association are busy preparing for this year’s edition of the Grandpa Fair of the South which is set for Monday through Saturday July 23 through July 28.
With the theme “Carnival Lights & Summer Nights”, this year’s DeKalb County Fair will feature a fun filled week of activities including rides by the Family Attractions Amusement Company and two new events, a gospel concert on Wednesday night, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grandstand, featuring the very popular southern gospel family group “The McKameys” and “ATV-Mini Rods- Outlaws Pulling” on Thursday night, July 26 at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen arena. Instead of giving away $1,000 each night to just one person, there will be two nightly drawings of $500 each this year. Ticket holders must be present to win. Any cash not awarded during the week will be saved and given away on Saturday night
Fair Board Member Jeff McMillen said these new events and changes should add even more excitement to an already entertaining fair. “We have changed from having two nights of Super Truck and Tractor Pulls to one night of that and we have included an ATV and what is called an Outlaw Class and a Mini-Tractor Class for Thursday night. This will allow the local ATV’s to come in and pull. It’s a smaller sled. Anybody who needs to know the classes can go to the fair website and find all that at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com. We will post all the rules, regulations, and classes on there.
The McKameys, of Clinton, Tennessee, play about 150 days a year, traveling all over North America from Southern California on up to British Columbia and over to the East Coast, north to New Brunswick and south to Florida. They have had 24 number one singles and in 1999 were honored by their record label, Horizon, for having the most number one hits in the history of Southern Gospel Music. The group has been awarded several different Singing News Fan Awards through the years with Peg McKamey being named Favorite Female Vocalist 7 times. The group is made up of husband and wife, Reuben Bean and Peg McKamey Bean; their daughers Connie and Sheryl; and Connie’s husband Roger Fortner, and their son, Eli.
The fair will be bringing back the Open Rodeo, the Demolition Derby, and Super Tractor and Truck Pull, Go Kart Racing, Four Wheelers and Motorcycle Racing, DeKalb Idol, the Vintage Fashion Show, and many other popular attractions.
McMillen urges fair goers to take the time to enjoy lots of delicious foods from the food booths and stop by to see the many commercial, agricultural, and women’s exhibits.
The Kenneth Sandlin Center will be open Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
All Non- Perishable exhibits ONLY will be accepted Saturday, July 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. All Perishable items ONLY will be accepted on Saturday, July 21 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Take a stroll down Memory Lane and enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village, sponsored by DeKalb Community Bank. The DeKalb County Fair Memory Lane Stage Line-Up is as follows:ATV Sled Pull – Click here for more amazing videos
Monday, July 23: Cattle Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Tot Kelly barn; Open Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:30 p.m.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant for contestants ages 13-16 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant for contestants ages 17 to 20 at the Lions Club Pavilion. (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 24: Little Mr. and Miss Pageant for contestants ages 4-6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; Go-Cart Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Horse Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25: Snowbird- WSMV Channel 4 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; McKameys in Concert at 6:30 p.m. at the Grandstand; Little Miss Princess Pageant for contestants ages 7-9 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant for those ages 10-12 at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4 Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 26: Senior Citizen Day activities at 9:00 a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4-H Chick Chain Show at 5:00 p.m. at the Tot Kelly barn; Junior Goat Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; a Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Vintage Fashion Show at the Lions Club Pavilion; and ATV-Mini Rods- Outlaws Pulling at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:00 p.m.;(2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 27: Toddler Show for contestants 13 months to 47 months at 6:00 p.m. followed by DeKalb Idol Final Competition at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4 Wheel Drive Mud Racing at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Demolition Derby at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 28:
Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at Noon.; Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Take a stroll down Memory Lane and enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village, sponsored by DeKalb Community Bank. The DeKalb County Fair Memory Lane Stage Line-Up is as follows:
Monday Night July 23
6:30-7:30 pm — Second Coming Band
7:45-8:45 pm— Brad Hennessee w/ Midnight Flyer
Tuesday Night July 24
6:30-7:30 p.m.— Abigail Rose
7:45-8:45 p.m.— Lil John
Wednesday Night July 25
6:30-7:30 p.m.— Scott Steele w special guest Trish Smith
7:45-8:45 p.m.— Mike Jones
Thursday Night July 26
6:30-7:30 p.m.— Donny Barthelemy
7:45-8:45 p.m.— Terri Lynn Weaver
Friday Night July 27
6:30 – until— Karaoke Night
No Rap , Radio Edit Only
Max 1 Instrument or 2 Vocal Mikes and 2 Instruments Max.
Saturday Night July 286:30-7:30 p.m— Mid State Cloggers
7:45-8:45 p.m— Evermean Evergreen Cloggers
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available for $15.00 on Monday night; $16.00 on Tuesday night; $14.00 on Wednesday and $18.00 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Admission to the fair is $4.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.