The Lincoln County fair returns for the 124th time, and the traditional features fair-goers have come to love will be reprised, yet some tweaks to improve the fair are in process.
The traditional includes kids showing animals and exhibits from Wed.-Sun., with the market animal show at 10 a.m., Sat.
“All of the kids spend a lot of time getting their animals prepped and ready,” fair president Mark Duley said. “They’re excited every year. I get to watch all the kids grow up. I’ve been doing this long enough that some that were young have gone on to college.”
Of course, admission is free, with $5 daily parking or $13 season pass.
The food stands and beer tents for socializing are, of course, back. And some of the entertainment has a familiar sound, with Sunday demo derbies, the Friday Catch-A-Pig Contest, mud volleyball tournament and bands like Tuscan Road and Vic Ferrari. But the WAMI-winning Rabid Aardvarks (Fri.), Geoff Landon and Wolfpack (Sat.), and comedians Scott Long and David Harris (Sat.) are brand new. Former Packer great Dave Robinson, a tremendous player and man, will be signing books and autographing items, as well as allowing fans to try on his Super Bowl ring.
“I’m pretty excited about the things we’ve got coming in,” entertainment director Dale Christiansen said. “Our music tent is lined up with real good entertainment. We’re running music between the two demo derbies (with both Carl Jackson and the BBQ Boys a hot Chicago Blues/rock group), which is something we haven’t done in the past. Those (comedians) have been on Fox, NBC, ESPN, Comedy Central and the Bob and Tom Show. Dave Robinson wrote Lombardi Legacies and he just wrote another book. He will be in the activity tent on Thursday and Friday and Saturday he will have his own tent in the same area.”
It wouldn’t be the fair without amusements and rides, but Tip Top Entertainments will bring a new carnival with a familiar feel.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about Tip Top,” Christiansen said. “They’re very good people to work with. They actually are originally from the Merrill area and still have relatives in this area. They’re glad to get back in this neighborhood. They pulled in Sunday and set up what looks like a good clean show.”
Rides specials are available every day of the fair.
The traditional grandstand shows will have temporary bleachers due to the recent dismantling of the old grandstand after it was damaged by a recent windstorm.
“It’s not insurmountable,” Duley said. “Mother Nature took care of the grandstand, so we had to change our strategy a little bit. The county’s been very helpful with the last-minute details.”
For more info, check out the new web address of www.lincolncofair.com.