175 years of the Wayne County Fair to be celebrated with 2-day event
This is a parade from long ago in front of the grandstand at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. A parade of a different kind will be held Aug. 17, kicking off the two-day celebration of the fair's upcoming 175th anniversary.
An anniversary party to celebrate the 175th Wayne County Fair may rival the fair itself.
The prefair event Aug. 17-18 will kick off Saturday at 10 a.m. with a parade snaking through downtown Wooster and will wrap up Sunday afternoon with a jazz concert and prizes for the top cinnamon roll entries. Square dancing, clogging, fireworks, musical entertainment, fair memorabilia auctions and sales, historical exhibits, pedal tractor pulls, antique displays, a Lerch’s doughnut eating contest, a mullet and beard contest, and a miniature horse pull all will take place.
Fair board members past and present planned the free event to showcase the fair’s signature activities throughout the years and attract guests of all ages.
Billed as Ohio’s foremost agricultural fair, “The Wayne County Fair is the biggest event in the county every year,” said fair board member Tom Stocksdale, who co-chaired the anniversary celebration committee with Mike Buchholz, board president. The prefair festivities are a tribute to all the fair has meant to the community, participants, volunteers and guests who come from far and wide.
“It’s a chance for us to reflect on the last 175 years and embrace the rich traditions and history that will help guide the next generation,” fair secretary Matt Martin said. “We can be reminded of where we came from and build upon those traditions.”
Fair board members have been great stewards and leaders, Martin said, so the fair has a strong foundation for the future.
One of those leaders, Ron Grosjean, fair director emeritus, was chosen as the parade’s grand marshal in honor of his near lifelong dedication to the fair. He served on the board for 43 years before retiring in 2021, but he remains an active supporter.
He will be joined on a parade entry by 10 others who hold the title of fair director emeritus, having served on the board for at least 20 years.
Considering the fair began on a dusty lot in 1849, the modern-day version is a tribute to years of hard work and progress.
“It’s quite an accomplishment,” Grosjean said. “We’ve been able to keep (the fair) living and growing.”
Organizers are expecting about 100 parade entries including the Ohio State University Alumni Band, local high school bands and historical tributes.
The parade will start at the fairgrounds and travel to Kemrow Avenue and then West South Street before making a left on Buckeye Street and another left on Liberty Street. The parade will travel Liberty Street to Vanover Street before heading back to the fairgrounds and passing in front of the grandstand.
Parade awards will be presented for the following categories: Best Depiction of the Wayne County Fair 175th Celebration, Best Depiction of Wayne County, Best Agribusiness, Best Production Agriculture, Most Historical, Most Patriotic, Most Original, Outstanding Commercial Entry, Outstanding Non-Commercial Service Group and Church, Outstanding Youth Group, Best Marching Unit, Best Equine-Livestock Unit, Best Depicting of Wayne County Municipalities-Villages, and Best of Show.
Visitors can commemorate the 175th anniversary of the fair in a number of ways.
Raffle
A $5 raffle ticket will offer the chance to win these commemorative items containing the 175th logo: a 1-gallon crock, a quilt or one of two porcelain signs. Drawing for these prizes will take place Thursday, Sept. 12 after the Junior Fair Swine Sale in the event center.
Auction
A live auction on Saturday at 5 p.m. will feature original wooden dining hall chairs, four original wooden grandstand seats, a 1-gallon commemorative crock with the 175th logo and two 24-inch porcelain signs with the 175th logo.
Memorabilia
Iitems available for purchase at the prefair celebration include decks of playing cards, porcelain signs, T-shirts, squishy toys and Christmas ornaments. A limited number of commemorative crocks may be purchased and orders placed for additional ones. A Penny Press Machine will allow visitors to buy a penny pressed with the fair’s anniversary dates on it for $1.
Contests
Following the long tradition of bringing baked goods to the fair, the prefair event will hold baking contests for fruit pies and cinnamon rolls. The entry deadline is Aug. 10, and forms are available on the Wayne County Fair website at www.waynecountyfairohio.com.
Old Daily Record fair photos will be on display in the fair’s school building. Saturday's all-day attractions include spinning and weaving demonstrations and antique car and tractor shows. Sunday's all-day attractions include American Chuck Wagon Association demonstrations and antique car and tractor shows. Memorabilia will be available for sale both days.
Saturday, Aug. 17 schedule
—Parade lineup at back parking lot of fairgrounds at 8 a.m.
—Parade through downtown Wooster at 10 a.m.
—Cooking class by the American Chuck Wagon Association at 11 a.m.
—Fruit pie baking contest at 1 p.m.
—Cedar Valley Cloggers dance performance in the entertainment tent at 2 p.m.
—Parade awards ceremony in the entertainment tent at 3 p.m.
—The Twang Cats performance in entertainment tent at 3 p.m.
—Miniature horse pull at the grandstand pulling track at 3 p.m.
—Antique Shingle Mill Demo from 3-6 p.m.
—American Chuck Wagon Association serving food samples at 5 p.m.
—Live auction of memorabilia at the event center at 5 p.m.
—Pie contest winners announced at the event center at 6 p.m.
—Square dance at the event center with Mel Stocksdale Band from 6-9 p.m.
—Sobos Band performance at the entertainment tent from 7-9 p.m.
—Fireworks (rain date Sunday) from 9:30-10 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 18 schedule
—Northern Ohio Outlaw Mounted Shooting at horse arena at noon.
—Registration for pedal pull at noon.
—Mullet and beard contest at noon.
—Petting zoo and animal demonstrations from noon to 3 p.m.
—Doughnut eating contest at 1 p.m.
—Buckeye State Pedal Pull Tractor Contest (age 11 and under free and $10 fee for age 12 and older) at 1 p.m.
—Cinnamon roll baking contest at 2 p.m.
—Shawshank Big Band at the entertainment tent from 2-4 p.m.