Full Tuscarawas County Fair on schedule for 2021
A full seven-day fair is planned at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds this year from Sept. 20-26.
It’s back. A full seven-day fair is planned at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds this year from Sept. 20-26.
“At this point in time, it is a full fair. Nothing’s changed, and no restrictions are in place,” said Jonna Cronebaugh, marketing consultant for the Tuscarawas County Fair. “We have slated everything. We’ve got entertainment in the grandstand, and we have full classes for everything.”
Reb Billman, president of the Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society, is pleased the fair board can go back to business as usual for this year’s event.
“It’s actually a lot less work to go back to a full fair,” Billman said. “People just don’t realize how much extra work it was last year because last year nothing fell into place like it does on a normal year.”
Safety will still be a priority as the pandemic continues to linger. Those who feel more comfortable wearing a mask are welcome to wear one, and extra handwashing stations and hand sanitizer will be available around the grounds. Regular cleaning of the restrooms also will take place.
“The big thing is if you don’t feel good, stay home,” Billman said.
Durant Entertainment is again providing the rides, which are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. on Monday after they have passed inspection.
Plans for the fair include the following:
—Monday: Veteran’s Day, free admission for veterans with valid I.D., and Motocross, seats $5.
—Tuesday: Safety Forces Day, $1 admission with valid I.D., and Band-o-rama.
—Wednesday: Senior Day, $1 admission for 65 and over, and a rodeo, $10.
—Thursday: Family Day with discounted admission and rides and Mod Rod.
—Friday: OSTPA Sanctioned Truck and Tractor pull, $10.
—Saturday: Monster Truck Show, $10.
—Sunday: Demolition Derby, $10.
One of the biggest changes is the Performing Arts Center at KSU Tuscarawas will handle ticket sales for the grandstand shows. An additional $2 processing fee is added to each ticket sale.
For the ticketed events, reserved seating is available. Tickets can be purchased at tuscpactickets.universitytickets.com/w/?cid=178, and online sales will be open until two hours prior to each event. Tickets may be purchased at the PAC box office in New Philadelphia from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During fair week tickets can be purchased at the Will Call Booth by the grandstand.
Once purchased, tickets are available for pickup or mailing, or you can choose to pick up tickets at the Will Call Booth the week of the fair.
Unfortunately, events may be canceled by the presenting organization due to weather or track conditions, and tickets are nonrefundable.
“The PAC is going to be much easier and much more customer friendly. They have the manpower and the knowledge to do it better than we can. We’re trying to be a little more efficient that way,” Cronebaugh said.
Tickets are already selling well. It was noted handicapped seating is available and should be requested when ordering tickets.
The hybrid market animal sales went well last year and will return this year. They also were popular with buyers who work. Two sales to out-of-state bidders were even made last year.
“We had requests as soon as the fair was over to keep the same format,” Kirsten Heckel of the OSU Extension office said.
For businesses, the opportunity to follow the sale from the office is beneficial.
The hybrid sale also opens up more opportunities for the exhibitors. About 25% of the Thursday night sales were online at the junior fair held last year.
Kaufman Auctions and Realty will coordinate the sale again this year. The livestock sale will begin at noon in the main show arena on Thursday with swine at 4 p.m. Lambs, market beef and dairy steers will be sold. Normally, species are sold in order of their placement at the fair, but due to the amount of work required ahead of time to set up the hybrid sale, only the top 10 will sell in order.
Only winning poultry will be shown at the small animal sale on Saturday. Due to past problems with hot weather making some birds sick, all market poultry will leave the fairgrounds on Wednesday night.
Fancy poultry will still be on display.
Due to a large number of animal entries, watch the Tuscarawas County Fair website and Facebook page for location changes of some events like the kiddie tractor pull. In general, the number of market animal projects have increased and stand at about 320 hogs, 106 steers, 24 sheep, over 20 market goats, 125 broiler pens, 22 pens of ducks, 24 turkeys and around 20 pens of rabbits. The fair board is discussing options to find a place to exhibit every animal.
“All fair boards work together; we are not our own little island. It could just be that we have to borrow some pens and make space,” Heckel said.
The junior fair officials hope to have show results out more quickly than in the past.
“We switched to a new program called Fair Entry this year. Everything was done online for both the junior and senior fair entries,” Jacquie Peters said.
It was a big step forward.
“It’s following the lead of the state fair. We always try to keep up with the top fairs in the state of Ohio and be one of the leaders,” Doug Wills said.
The program will help them be more efficient, and they plan to post the results online on the fair website.
The fair board is still hiring for a number of jobs including trash, gate workers, restroom workers and parking. Anyone interested in helping make this year’s fair a success can pick up an application at the fair board office.
“It takes a lot to put on the fair,” Peters said.