Concert returns, Touch-A-Truck added at 2023 fair
The new addition to the poultry pavilion was recently completed. Work was still in progress when this photo was taken.
The Tuscarawas County Fair will take place Sept. 18-24.
Back by popular demand, a Wednesday night concert featuring the musicians and vocalists of That Arena Rock Show will blanket the grandstand in hit tunes from the 1970s and 1980s.
Described as the ultimate tribute to classic rock ‘n’ roll, the group will cover the hits of such artists as KISS, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Poison, Van Halen and more. They’ll also take their audience back in time with numerous costume changes to make the experience more authentic.
Touch-A-Truck is a new event for kids to be held in front of the grandstand on Thursday night. A similar event has been held at the Ohio State Fair and proved to be popular. Many area companies will participate in the event including Kenworth of Canton, Battle Motors, Rosenberry Towing, TMK Valley Propane and others.
The Band-O-Rama will return for its fourth year on Tuesday night featuring area high school bands performing some of their best football halftime routines.
“I feel that we pay for a lot of performers, and I don’t think there’s any better performers than who we have right here in our own Tuscarawas County, so why not pay them and help those schools out?” Ag Society Director Doug Wills said.
Each band receives a donation from the fair board for participating.
They also like to allow time for the band members to enjoy the fair too. Wills is grateful for the help of Bart Herman, a former Dover High School drum major who portrays David Ziesberger in “Trumpet in the Land.” Herman has been contacting schools and organizing the event. He also will serve as announcer of the program again this year.
Last year the Band-O-Rama attracted a large crowd to the grandstand.
“It is getting bigger, and we hope it continues to grow. That’s our goal,” Wills said.
The Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society board members are pleased more children are becoming involved in agriculture to the point they are running out of space for them to exhibit their projects at the fairgrounds.
“We ran out of room in the pig barn. Pigs are filling up the small animal arena. So we made an expansion to the chicken poultry pavilion, a 16-by-80 addition, to house more poultry and to open the back of it up to be a small show arena,” said Dave Miller, vice president of the society.
Space also is at a premium in the sheep and goat barn, and additional pens are being brought in from a neighboring county to help solve space problems.
There is much good news about the fair this year including the return of homemade chicken noodle soup on the menu every day at the Clover Café. Supply issues last year caused a problem.
Prefair activities on Sunday, Sept. 17 will begin at 6:30 p.m. and include the crowning of the 2023 junior fair king and queen, commemorative items auction, Quilts of Valor presentation, companion animal, miscellaneous, and FCS project awards.
There is one candidate for 2023 fair king, Jonathon Domer of Dover, and three candidates for fair queen: Brianna Burdette of Uhrichsville, Laura Weaver of Dover and Kimber Fillman of Port Washington. The winners will be crowned by 2022 Tuscarawas County Fair Queen Lexi Troyer of Sugarcreek.
Fair and grandstand activities
—Monday, Sept. 18: Veterans Day, free admission with valid ID, junior fair poultry shows and lamb shows, and Motocross (grandstand tickets required).
—Tuesday, Sept. 19: Safety Forces Day; $1 admission with valid ID; junior fair hog, horse and beef shows; draft horse and mule halter show; and the Band-O-Rama (free grandstand show).
—Wednesday, Sept. 20: Senior Day; $1 admission for age 65 and over; junior fair goat, ranch horse, beef, calf and dairy steer shows; and That Arena Rock Show (grandstand tickets required).
—Thursday, Sept. 21: Family Day with discounted admission and rides, junior fair contesting horse and rabbit shows, livestock sale beginning at noon with swine and at 4 p.m. with market beef and lambs, and Touch-A-Truck (free grandstand event).
—Friday, Sept. 22: Junior fair western horse, dairy, horse versatility and pygmy goat shows; harness racing; dairy product sale at 3 p.m.; Animal and Me Show; and OSTPA Truck and Tractor Pull (grandstand tickets required).
—Saturday, Sept. 23: Junior fair livestock judging, horse fun show, super showmanship, harness racing, small animal sale at 3 p.m., kiddie tractor pulls, and OSTPA Truck and Tractor Pull (grandstand tickets required).
—Sunday, Sept. 24: Worship service at 10 a.m. at grandstand, open class beef judging, harness racing and the Demolition Derby (grandstand tickets required).
Tickets are being handled by Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center. For a link to purchase tickets, more information and a complete schedule of Tuscarawas County Fair activities, visit www.tusccountyfairgrounds.com.