By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
July 15, 2008

The 158th annual Carroll County fair got underway this Tuesday for a six-day run through Sunday, July 20.

Besides a midway packed with food stands and adult rides, the county fair offers a lot of other fun-filled activities, including daily free grandstand entertainment, a variety of open class and junior fair animals, along with 4-H and FFA projects on display in the exhibit halls. The kiddie rides are located at the south (lower end) of the fairgrounds.

A show tent, located on the south side of the exhibit hall, has daily and evening entertainment throughout the fair.

Bates Brothers, who provide the mechanical rides for the fair, has a total of 12 rides, including six adult and six kiddie rides. New choices this year include the Inverter and Quasar, both adult rides, and new swings for the kids.

Tractor pulls will be held this Thursday and Friday, both beginning at 9 a.m. each day in front of the grandstand. Saturday night’s grandstand attraction will be the Mike Albert “Elvis on Tour” show starring Albert and the Big E Band with one show starting at 7 p.m.

On tap Sunday night will be the annual auto demo derby which is open to the world starting at 6 p.m.

The junior fair also offers a variety of events, including the annual large animal sale Friday evening starting at 6 p.m. and the small animal auction Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m., both in the metal barn at the north end of the fairgrounds.

Auctioned at the large animal sale will be dairy beef, lambs, cheese, steers and hogs while the small animal sale will feature rabbits, market chickens, market turkeys and goats, all exhibited by Junior fair members.

In welcoming fair goers, Fair Board President Ed Trushel says he hopes people will take advantage of the fair week passes (memberships) which are available at the secretary’s office for $16 and entitle the holder to admission to the fair anytime.

He also encourages fair goers to consider purchasing commemorative baskets available for $45. Trushel said the first nine will be sold at each of the three junior fair auctions, including the Still Project auction held this Wednesday evening. The baskets are numbered and make excellent gifts or keepsakes, Trushel noted.

Single admission to this year’s fair remains at $7. Anyone two years of age and older must pay the $7 single admission, except for members of the military in uniform and residents of the Carroll County Golden Age Retreat.

Handicap parking is available adjacent to Gate 1 at the southeast corner of the fairgrounds and golf carts will be available to shuttle handicapped from Gate 1 to the midway.

All vehicles must enter the fairgrounds from the south (lower) gate off SR 9 and exit from the north gate near the county garage. The fairgrounds is located on N. Lisbon St. (SR 9), just north of downtown Carrollton.