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 19th through July 24th.
With the theme ” The Fun Begins in 2010″, this year’s DeKalb County Fair will feature a fun filled week of activities including all new rides by the Family Attractions Amusement Company and two nights of the Super Truck and Tractor Pull on Friday and Saturday nights.
Fair Manager Jeff McMillen says more work has been required this year to get ready for the fair, due to the flooding that occurred in May. ” If at all possible we’ll start putting up the fence next week. That will be the last of the flood damage. Although the grandstand was not structurally damaged due to the flood we have been required to buy additional insurance and we’ll have that in place by the first of the week. We have bought some very expensive insurance that we hope we don’t have to use to be able to do the events. We are going to go up on our entry fees of every event that I can think of by five dollars to help pay for these events because we have to buy special event insurance to do the demolition derby, the motorcycle/four wheeler event, the go carts, tractor pulls, every thing that we do, we have to buy special event insurance. We’ve spent a lot of money cleaning up after the flood and we’re hoping for federal assistance but we can’t guarantee that. We can’t bank on something we don’t have. But everything is cleaner than it’s been in probably ten years because of all the pressure washing that’s been done. We’ve hired some people to come down and help and they have done a good job. We’re going to be ready and you probably won’t know the difference between this year and last year as far as a flood being there. ”
McMillen says the fair will be bringing back the Off-Road Challenge, Open Rodeo, the Demolition Derby, Antique Tractor Pull, Super Tractor and Truck Pull, Go Kart Racing, Four Wheelers and Motorcycle Racing, DeKalb Idol, the Vintage Fashion Show, and many other popular attractions. “We have the same events that we had last year but the carnival people (Family Attractions Amusement) will have all new rides. They’re trying to bring new things to towns that they have been in for a while.”
“The Off- Road Challenge will be adding a speed course. Instead of it being a boring type five minute “can you get across the log” type thing, it’s going to be more of a time type (speed course) event. These vehicles need to be pre-registered. The cost is twenty five dollars to pre-register or forty five dollars if you register the day of the event.”
“We’ll have Go-Cart racing. This year with our competition carts, which is the fast carts, they have started a points system and they do about four or five fairs. The Lebanon fair is the championship series of this challenge so if they (participants) want to be involved in the points and win money at the end of the year, they have to come to these fairs and race so we should have more participation in that class than we have had in the past.”
“This year on the tractor pull, we’re going to do two nights of the Super Trucks and Tractor Pull. We’ll have seven classes each night. Part of the smoker tractors will pull both nights and it’s a points event so they will have to participate if they want to win the points at the end of the year.”
“On Saturday, we’re going to open the gates at noon and we’ll have an antique tractor pull starting at two o’clock. Again, the second night of the Super Truck and Tractor Pull will be on Saturday night at seven thirty p.m.”
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 Noon. until 9:00 p.m.
All Non-Perishable exhibits ONLY will be accepted Saturday, July 10th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
All Perishable exhibits ONLY will be accepted Saturday, July 17th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Premium books are now available at DeKalb Community Bank, Liberty State Bank, the Chamber of Commerce Office, and at all libraries in DeKalb County..
Enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village
The following events are scheduled:
Monday, July 19th: Cattle Show at 6:00 p.m. at the Tot Kelly barn; Off-Road Challenge at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 6:30 p.m.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant at the Lions Club Pavilion. $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20th: the Little Mr. and Miss Pageant for contestants ages 4-6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion with a concert by Doug Collins to follow; Go-Cart Racing at 6:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Horse Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21st: Little Miss Princess Pageant for contestants ages 7-8 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant for those ages 10-12 at the Lions Club Pavilion; Four Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 22nd: 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 Tot Kelly barn; a Baby Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Vintage Fashion Show at the Lions Club Pavilion; and a Rodeo at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7:30 p.m.; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 23rd: Toddler Show at 6:00 p.m. followed by DeKalb Idol Final Competition at the Lions Club Pavilion; a Super Truck and Tractor Pull at 7:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Demolition Derby at 7:00 p.m. at the Grandstand; $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 24th: Horseshow Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at 3:00 p.m.; Gospel singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m.; Antique Tractor Pull at 2:00 p.m at the T.C. McMillen Arena.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and a $1000 cash giveaway at 9:30 p.m.
One thousand dollars in cash will be given away each night, Monday through Saturday and you must be present to win. If no one presents the winning ticket within three minutes, the money will be saved and given away on Saturday night in increments of $1,000. Your fair admission ticket is your ticket for the cash drawing.
ALL NEW RIDES on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company. Unlimited rides will be available each night for $16.00.
Admission to the fair is $3.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at NOON. on Saturday. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfair.us.
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