Holmes Fair board excited to be back to normal

Holmes Fair board excited to be back to normal
Jim Miller

Rides and concession stands will once again be at full strength as the Holmes County Fair board continues its effort to prepare for this summer’s fair in a fashion that will be a welcomed norm.

                        

Any time a county fair board puts on a week-long show, they are looking to create excitement and up the ante in terms of activities, events and shows that will raise the roof and take the event to a whole new level.

After going through a COVID-restricted fair last year that was cut way back and had very few activities that were not of junior fair relation, the Holmes County Fair board would like nothing more than to return to the normal fair people have grown to cherish and enjoy over the years.

“I’d say we are all pretty eager to just get back to normal,” said Kerry Taylor, Holmes County Fair board president. “It was a big relief to all of us when we learned that all of the restrictions had been removed as of June 2. It felt like we could finally turn the page and get back to doing what we do, which is putting on a top-notch fair for the people and the kids.”

What the removal of those restrictions does is allow the fair board to basically reimplement all of the grandstand shows and stage on the green activities that were slated to take place last year, plus a whole lot more.

Doing what it always has done sounds very inviting to the board.

“The Holmes County Fair board is very excited to be hosting a full fair starting Aug. 9, without restrictions, welcoming back grandstand events and amusement rides,” Taylor said. “The full schedule is now completed, and presale tickets for the grandstand and all passes are now on sale.”

Admission to the fair is $6 per day with Pomerene Hospital sponsoring the reduced admission price of $3 on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Week-long season passes also are available, along with reserved parking passes. In addition, dozens of corporate and individual sponsors help make the fair affordable family entertainment.

The activities will be familiar to those who attend the fair every year.

On Monday, Aug. 9, there will be a full rodeo with tickets costing $10. The event is sponsored by dac Vitamins and Minerals.

Tuesday, Aug. 10 will feature the Brad Giauque Memorial OSTPA Truck & Tractor Pull with tickets available for $5. The event is sponsored by Millersburg Tire Service Inc. and Hubner Seed.

Wednesday, Aug. 11 will showcase the motocross for $5.

Thursday, Aug. 12 will be the Holmes County Fair Championship Bulls & Barrels Rodeo with tickets priced at $10 and sponsored by dac Vitamins and Minerals.

Friday, Aug. 13 will feature KOI Drag Racing with $5 admission.

On Saturday, Aug. 14, the demolition derby will put an exclamation point on the grandstand activities with tickets priced at $10. Full week grandstand passes can be purchased for $35; admission to the fair is not included.

A kid favorite also will come back after being absent last year, that being the Kissel Amusement ride area, which will be packed full of rides and games.

On Monday, Aug. 9 rides will be open from 4-10 p.m. Kids can buy 20 tickets for $25 and get 10 tickets for free. No wristbands will be sold.

Tuesday rides will open at noon and highlight the “Two for Tuesday” package, which is two unlimited ride passes for $22. Individual passes are $17.

Wednesday rides will open at noon with unlimited ride passes good until closing. Those will be available for $10 if purchased between noon to 4 p.m. and $17 after 4 p.m.

Thursday and Friday rides will open at noon with unlimited ride passes that will be good all day, available from noon to 3 p.m. at a cost of $14, while tickets purchased after 3 p.m. will be $17.

Saturday rides will open at noon with unlimited ride passes good all day from noon to 10 p.m. for $17. There will be a special buy one, get one at half price until 3 p.m.

Other highlights will include the return of Kids Day on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and veterans or active military will be admitted free all day on that Wednesday.

Kids Day, which is sponsored by AloNovus Inc./The Bargain Hunter, will include reduced ride passes, vendor discounts, specials and giveaways, and fun activities.

Thursday will be Senior Citizen Day, complete with door prizes, tabletop displays, presentations and vendor discounts. This event will be sponsored by Community Hospice & Foundations Health Solutions.

For additional information on Kids Day or Senior Citizen Day, call Kathy Schlabach at 330-231-0456.

In addition to the many livestock shows throughout the week, 4-H Life Skills and FFA projects will be on display, as well as home arts and flower displays. The annual livestock auctions will take place Thursday and Friday evenings.

According to Taylor, there are presently a large number of projects registered, as youth and adults are happy to once again display and show at the fair. The “Be You” livestock show will once again take place on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The junior fair board has put together a full junior fair schedule and will be busy all week long.

The CSB stage on the green will be busy all week long, with highlights including the Holmes County Junior Fair king and queen coronation on Monday afternoon, local dance and performing arts organizations throughout the week, and the West Holmes marching band on Tuesday. The local band, Copout, will perform on Friday night, and the nationally recognized tribute band, The Lynyrd Skynyrd Experience, will close out fair week with a two-hour performance on Saturday at 9 p.m.

According to Taylor, the board will continue to monitor any restrictions, but he said the board expects to have a return to normalcy.

“It’s going to be fun to have everything back at full capacity,” Taylor said. “People are itching to get back to normal, and we believe this fair is going to go a long way in making that happen. It should be a great time, and we invite everyone to come out and support the fair and the kids and have a great time.”

Between now and the start of the fair, the office will offer limited hours to purchase tickets and passes. Hours are posted on the Holmes County Fair Facebook page, and information can be obtained by calling 330-674-0869. Questions also can be emailed to holmescountyfair@gmail.com. Updates will be posted to the Facebook page and the website at www.harvestridgeohio.com under the fair tab.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load