MOUNT VERNON — This year’s Knox County Fair – running from Sunday, July 23 through Saturday, July 29 – will offer a mix of new and old.
This year marks the 174th anniversary of the Knox County Fair, and while the name and location stays the same, the people, activities and junior fair exhibitors change throughout the years.
This is what makes the Knox County Fair special, president Jim Ruhl said.
“It’s about the junior fair kids,” Ruhl said. “The entertainment — anything else, that’s just extra.”
It’s about making sure the junior fair aspects continue to approve every year, Ruhl said.
This year’s fair offers a mix of the new and old, especially with live music being brought back after being dormant for a couple of years. Columbus-based interactive science museum COSI will be at the fairgrounds, located next to the fair board’s office, July 26 and 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The COSI exhibit will be showcase interactive science experiments for children interested in science and math, vice president Regis Fowler said.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Fairgoers will witness Ohio State Tractor Pullers Association’s Truck and Tractor Pull Knox County Summer Clash at the grandstand on Sunday and Saturday nights; Fast Traxx moto cross Monday night; figure 8 races and demo derbies Tuesday night; rough truck & ramp Wednesday night; and drag racing Thursday night.
Country musician Preston Cooper will take the grandstand at 5:30 p.m. with Alan Carl taking the 8:30 p.m. time slot Friday night.
Harness racing will occur from noon and 5:30 p.m. on July 22.
There will be no monster truck racing this year.
The rodeo was moved back to Friday at 7 p.m. rather than Thursday.
Bates Brothers Amusement Company from Wintersville, Ohio, will provide rides again at the fair this year.
The fair’s beer stand will be south of the grandstand, Ruhl said. The beer stand is a good money maker for the fair, Ruhl said, adding it helps fund improvement projects like replacing or making barn repairs.
“It keeps growing”
Junior Fair shows and competitions will take place throughout the week – in barns, buildings and arenas across the fairgrounds. The Sale of Champions will take place Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Building.
Each animal will have a “sale of champions,” listing 10 exhibits in full.
Junior fair exhibitors continue to grow, Ruhl said, with around 1,400 expected to be at the fairgrounds.
“It keeps growing,” Ruhl said. “We’re outgrowing the fairgrounds and certain species.”
Goats exhibits have “exploded” compared to past fairs, Ruhl said, noting the fair has gone from averaging 50 goats to nearly 200.
To make space for billies, the fair board purchased a new goat barn two years ago, Ruhl said, next to the small animal barn and north of the rabbits and chicken barn.
“We have the existing goat barn and then we’re putting the excess this year in the overflow barn,” Ruhl said.
Tickets stay at $8
Gates will open at the fairgrounds (601 Fairgrounds Rd. in Mount Vernon) every day at 8 a.m.
Tickets stay at $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $5 for veterans, all week before 5 p.m. Admission for veterans is free on Wednesday. Admission for seniors is free on Thursday.
For more information, visit the Knox County Fair’s website.
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