WILMINGTON — The annual Clinton County Fair is set to go from this Saturday, July 9 through Saturday, July 16 at the fairgrounds where there will be food, rides, farm animals, games and motor sports, plus the fun of Junior and Senior Fair competitions.
And people already are talking about the variety and level of entertainment of the live music acts scheduled for every evening at the sound stage in the open-air Implement Dealers Building.
As for the enhanced musical offerings, members of the entertainment department for the Clinton County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) worked through an agent they met in the winter at the Ohio Fair Managers Association’s annual convention in Columbus.
The agent secured “a very nice variety of music and top-notch music,” said Greta Gray, a Clinton County Fair Board director and co-chair of advertising and communications.
One of those scheduled acts was at the convention in January, so Gray has already seen and heard the alt-rock band “Cream Camino” which will have two shows on the fair’s first night. She described them as “very good — they’re rockers.”
There also will be two shows from the musicians who are scheduled for Monday night and for the second Saturday. This “double-header” scheduling is handy for some folks, said Gray, noting the second show at 9 p.m. probably will be a little cooler and besides people may be eating when the first show is performed at 7.
And, if you need to head home sooner, you have that option of the earlier show at 7.
One of the music acts, the Southern Gospel quintet named Legacy 5, is sponsored by the Bible Baptist Church of Wilmington. Gray said the Fair Board is very thankful for the church’s contribution every year to musical entertainment.
All live music shows are free upon paid entry to the county fair.
It’s been a while since a rodeo has been at the fair, but that gap will end when a rodeo by Diamond J Rodeo Company is held at the grandstand on Wednesday evening.
“There are fairs around here such as Highland County and Clermont County that have been very successful in rodeo productions, so we’re going to give that a whirl as well,” said Gray.
Another fair attraction spotlights the athleticism of horses — a National Barrel Horse Association show and barrel racing event on the second Saturday at the horse arena. The horses and their riders travel for points, with the show here starting at noon, but with exhibition practice of barrel racing and pole racing starting at 9 a.m.
“You’ll get to see some beautiful horses, I’m sure,” Gray commented.
Sticking with horses, harness racing fans should note that their sport’s Monday and Tuesday events are back to starting at 1 p.m. rather than later in the day. The KOI Drag Racing grandstand event has changed days to Sunday.
“The bigger part of a county fair is about community and local involvement, whether it be individuals, nonprofit groups, or businesses that contribute to the activity. It is about the kids, and it’s about families, and it’s about agriculture,” remarked Gray.
The News Journal on Friday, July 8 will publish a 36-page program regarding the fair, followed by a brochure on Saturday, July 9 that can fit into your pocket.
“The News Journal works hand-in-hand with the Ag Society to prepare two informative pieces of information — the brochure and the program. Those items are available through the support of local advertisers, and can be found at local businesses, the fairgrounds, and in the News Journal as inserts,” Gray said.
Gray wants readers to know that the Clinton County Fair brochure published last year won Best of Show statewide for small fairs.
Daily admission to the 2022 Clinton County Fair is $10, which includes mechanical rides; your ticket must be turned in at the amusement ticket office for your daily ride armband.
Cost for a season pass which admits you to every day of the fair is $30. There’s no charge for children under age 5.
Here are just some of the highlights:
Saturday, July 9
9 a.m. Antique Tractor Pull
10 a.m. Garden Tractor Pull
11 a.m. Opening Ceremonies at front gate
10 a.m. Junior Fair Horse Show
3:30 p.m. Open Steer, Heifer and Feed Calf Show
4 p.m. Midway opens
5 p.m. Jr. Fair Dairy Goat Show
5:30 p.m. Cloverbud Cooking Challenge
7 p.m. Demolition Derby
7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Cream Camino shows — an alt-rock band from Columbus featuring original tunes and cover songs
Sunday, July 10
9 a.m. Jr. Fair Pygmy Goat Show
9 a.m. Open Rabbit Show
11 a.m. Open Baked Goods
1 p.m. Open Market Lamb, Goat Show
1 p.m. Jr. Fair Swine Breeding Show
2 p.m. KOI Drag Racing Time Trials
4 p.m. Midway opens
4 p.m. KOI Drag Racing
5 p.m. Royalty Recognition
6 p.m. Legacy 5 concert — a Tennessee-based Southern Gospel group
Monday, July 11
9 a.m. Jr. Fair Chicken Market Show
1 p.m. Jr. Fair Market Goat Showmanship
1 p.m. Harness Racing
4 p.m. Jr. Fair Market Lamb Showmanship
4 p.m. Midway opens
6 p.m. Jr. Fair Beef Showmanship
7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Cook & Belle shows — country, soul, gospel and more
8 p.m. Jr. Fair Olympics
Tuesday, July 12
Senior Citizens Day and Veterans Day — Seniors 60 & up admitted free; veterans admitted free.
9 a.m. Jr. Fair Market Turkey Show
1 p.m. Harness Racing
3 p.m. Open Swine Show
4 p.m. Midway opens
4 p.m. Jr. Fair Steer, Market Heifer, Feeder Calf & Breeding Show
7 p.m. Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers concert featuring the best in bluegrass
7 p.m. Lawnmower Racing
Wednesday, July 13
9 a.m. Jr. Fair Rabbit Show; Swine Showmanship
4 p.m. Jr. Fair Market Lamb Show
4 p.m. Midway opens
4 p.m. Sr. Fair Flower and Garden Show
6 p.m. Jr. Fair Market Goat Show
7 p.m. Rodeo by Diamond J Rodeo Company
8 p.m. Allie Colleen concert featuring folk and country music
Thursday, July 14
8:30 a.m. Jr. Fair Market Swine Show
9 a.m. Youth Division Open Rabbit Show
10 a.m. Jr. Fair Dog Obedience, showmanship, Skillathon; Dairy Cattle Showmanship
1 p.m. Open Baked Goods Sr. Division Judging
4 p.m. Midway opens
6:30 p.m. Jr. Fair Livestock Judging Contest
7 p.m. Truck & Tractor Pull
8 p.m. Murphy in concert featuring folk, soul and rock singer-songwriter from Baltimore with multiple appearances on “American Idol”
Friday, July 15
9 a.m. Jr. Fair Fancy Poultry Show
10 a.m. Jr. Fair Rabbit Judging Contest; Dairy Cattle Show, All Breeds; Roping Show
1 p.m. Dairy Judging Contest
1 p.m. Midway opens
4 p.m. Jr. Fair Showmanship Sweepstakes Contest
6:45 p.m. Fair Honoree Presentation
7 p.m. Tractor & Semi Pull
8 p.m. Emily Ann Roberts concert — who has performed on “The Voice” with Team Blake — featuring vintage country music
Saturday, July 16
9 a.m. Barrel Horse Racing Exhibition
10:30 a.m. Barrel Horse Pole Racing Exhibition
11:30 a.m. Kiddie Tractor Pull
12 p.m. Show & Barrel Horse Racing
1 p.m. Jr. Fair Sale of Champions
1 p.m. Midway opens
2 p.m. Jr. Fair Dog Agility
5:30 p.m. Open Holstein Show
7 p.m. & 9 p.m. New Frontiers: The Definitive Journey Tribute band in concert, twice in one night
