WILMINGTON — The annual Clinton County Fair is not only right around the corner, this year it becomes even more affordable for families to enjoy.
The fair officially gets underway Saturday, July 7 and continues through Saturday, July 14 at the fairgrounds in Wilmington.
Daily gate entry is $10 which includes mechanical amusement rides (your paid daily admission ticket must be turned into the amusement ticket office for the daily ride armband). Ages 5 and younger get in free. Season pass is $30.
“We know that families live on a budget, so we feel that now families can feel more welcome to come to the fair and enjoy activities along with the food and beverages,” said Fair Board member Greta Gray.
“With the new ride company it gave us the option to re-imagine the midway along with pricing structure to our patrons. So with the $10 daily paid admission a fair-goer can turn in their daily ticket for a ride armband.
“Historically, with the gate admission and armband, it would have been a total of $17, so this is quite a bit of reduction for families to attend the fair. And along with that we still wanted to be fair to those who purchased season passes.”
Tuesday, June 10 is a big day as it is Senior Citizens Day when attendees age 60 and older are admitted free, and it is also Veterans Day with veterans admitted free.
“Tuesday is also a big change for us, as we’re going to have a veterans program at 6 p.m. followed by the Van-Dells,” a well-known group of golden oldies music entertainers.
Gray added, “The other thing never ending is we are blessed with funds coming from state and county officials; there’s so many projects going on at the fairgrounds.”
This year’s Clinton County Fair Honorees are: Individual — Barb Davis, a longtime fair volunteer, primarily focusing on home economics; and, Business — Linndale Equipment, family-owned by Don and Miriam Speaight and established in the early 1980s.
KOI Drag Racing on Wednesday night features several classes: kids, ATV/dirt bike, modified, and open, with 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive, diesel, gas, modified trucks, buggies and semi’s.
Saturday night, July 14 will be a big time at the grandstand as the NTPA Regional National Truck & Tractor Pull returns, sponsored by R+L Carriers and the Clinton County Ag Society.
The event features Pro Stock Diesel 3.0 4×4 trucks, modified tractors, light pro stock tractors, two-wheel drive trucks and modified minis.
Last year’s event at the fairgrounds was named NTPA Regional National Pull of the Year.
Helicopter rides will again return to the fair in 2018.
The midway opens daily at 1 p.m. and the fair closes daily at 11 p.m. For more information, please visit clintoncountyfair.org .
