There is a lot going on at the Erie County Fair at Wattsburg this year. Not only is it the 141st annual fair, but the theme this year is America 250, so there will be a lot of red, white and blue floating around, especially on Sept. 5, when America 250 events will take place from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Also, this past June 26, Erie County and the Erie County Fair lost Darrell R. “Skip” Kimmy, a dedicated tractor mechanic who passed away as the result of an accident. He was a self-employed craftsman in the agriculture industry. Kimmy was a longtime member of the Erie County Fair board of directors, where he was known for manning his pulling sled for many events. His hobby was antiques tractors, and he was especially fond of his Minneapolis Moline.
There will be three plaques in his honor and memory at this year’s fair.
Corrie Boyd, president of the fair board, said the person who earns first place in the antique tractor pull will be given a plaque in memory of Kimmy.
Also, at the Erie County Fair at Wattsburg Queen Contest, which was held Aug. 16, a plaque was presented to the candidate who was chosen for giving the best interview.
“The whole antique farm equipment department will have a plaque dedicated in memory of Skip,” Boyd said.
The fair runs from Sunday, Aug. 30 to Saturday, Sept. 5, at the fairgrounds, 13993 Route 8, Wattsburg.
Gates open at noon, rides are open from 1 to 8 p.m..
The fair kicks off with the sixth annual Erie County Fair Parade at 5 p.m. The lineup will be at the south gate at 4 p.m. The parade will be followed by a vesper service at 6 p.m.
There is an Open Gaming Horse Show at noon, with registration at 11 a.m. and you can participate in goat yoga at 5 p.m. Cost is $20. Bring your own yoga mat; goats are provided.
Cow pie bingo takes place in the Halter Arena at 7 p.m.
The antique tractor pull takes place Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. in the grandstand. Weigh-in and registration are from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission to the grandstand is free. Also, Monday is senior citizens day with free gate admission. Gates open at noon. A senior king and queen will be crowned at 6 p.m. at the North Stage. Post time for harness racing is 1 p.m.
A ribbon cutting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Rides open at 5 p.m., and Polka Relations will play from 5 to 6:30 p.m. An antique tractor pulls starts at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, gates open at 4 p.m. and rides open at 5 p.m. There is a Breeding Sheep Show at 5 p.m. and a Market Sheep Show at 6 p.m., both in the Burrow’s Arena. A Dairy and Beef Show takes place in the Halter Arena at 6 p.m. A garden tractor pull takes place at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, Sept. 2, gates open at 4 p.m.; rides open at 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., fairgoers can see a draft horse pull in the grandstands and a Dairy Goat Show, both at 5 p.m., and a Market Goat Show at 6 p.m. The goat shows are in the Halter Arena.
On Thursday, gates open at 4 p.m.; rides open at 5 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., there will be a 4-H Livestock and General Project Spotlight on the Homeshow Building Stage. A Buckeye Rodeo takes place at 7 p.m. in the grandstands; there is a $10 admission fee.
On Friday, gates open at 4 p.m.; rides open at 5 p.m.
There will be a Market Hog Show at 6 p.m. in Burrow’s Arena and a truck pull at 7 p.m. You can register for the truck pull from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5, will feature a full day of activities, with gates opening at 9 a.m.
A Riding Horse Halter Show will take place at 9 a.m. in the new arena, followed by an Open Horse Show at 10 a.m. Rides will be open from noon to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 10 p.m.
A youth livestock auction will be held in the Burrow’s Building at noon. The Eriesistible Clowns will be in the midway from 1 to 5 p.m. A kids’ tractor pull will be held at 3 p.m.; register at 1 p.m.
A Draft Horse Hitch Show will be held at 2 p.m. in the new arena, and you won’t want to miss the America 250 events from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Saturday will feature the vegetable derby at 3:30 p.m. near Heritage Hall. Put wheels on your veggie, decorate it and let it roll. There will be mini rods at 7 p.m. You can get in on the fun with karaoke from noon to 6 p.m.
The fair will go out with a bang with a firework display at 10 p.m.
There will be Jumpin’ Jungle Miniature Golf at noon on Sunday and Saturday and at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Bwana Jim’s Wildlife Show will be held Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at 4:45 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The musical lineup includes, but is not limited to, Acoustic Steel from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Tyler McClain from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, the Cool Change Band from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Me & The Boy from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Knuckle Down from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday and the Dan Douglas Band from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, Ryah and Markus Acoustics will play from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Keystone Jake and Rick Acoustics will play from 4 to 6 p.m., Acoustics Steel will play from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the Northwest stage, and Chris Matthews will play from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the gazebo.
Presale of a weekly fair pass for $20 runs through Aug. 29. That includes daily gate admission only, not rides or Thursday, Friday and Saturday night grandstand events. Presale of a fair pass is available at www.wattsburgfair.com. Click on about and then click on admissions.
Daily general admission is $12, which includes parking, admission, rides and midway entertainment.
Children age 5 and under get free gate admission, but that does not include rides or Thursday, Friday or Saturday night grandstand events.
Gate admission for senior citizen age 65 and older is $5. Gate admission is free on Monday, but that does not include rides.