Burton – The kids are back in school but there is still plenty of time to get in that last summer hurrah. This weekend I know the perfect place: The Great Geauga County Fair in Burton is a place where you can create family memories that last a lifetime.
The Great Geauga County Fair opens Thursday August 30th and will run thru Labor Day, September 3, 2012. The fair is located just north of the circle in Burton on North Cheshire Street. Geauga County Fair boasts being Ohio’s oldest fair and is celebrating its 190th year.
The fair grounds open daily at 9 am, with buildings open at 10 am and rides opening at noon. Free parking is available just north of the fairgrounds and they have free shuttles that will help folks get from the parking lot to the gates. The cost for the fair is $7, with children 12 and under admitted free daily. The cost doesn’t include rides, however they do offer reduced ride passes on Thursday and Friday. Thursday, all youth 18 years and under will be admitted free and Friday, all seniors citizens 65 and older along with veterans will be admitted free. Please note that there are no pets allowed on the fair grounds except those participating in the dog show and trained assistance dogs.
This year the fair will have four paid grandstand events. They are Thursdays and Saturday night demolition derbies, truck pulls on Sunday and US FMX Champion Series on Monday. The demolition derbies sell out early, one is advised to buy tickets online www.geaugafair.com.
Besides the usual fair exhibits, other highlights of the fair include the animal shows, cloggers, and square dancers, live musical entertainment, the Great Geauga County Fair Band. There will be activities in the natural resource area such as youth fishing, archery, and wild animal show. Chicken flying contest, a rooster crowing contest hosted by local radio personality Mark Nolan and a frog jumping contest are big spectator events. One of the biggest free shows at the grand stand is The Band-O-Rama Show. This features Geauga County high school marching bands and cheerleaders performing a typical half-time show. This event is Sunday at 1:30 pm. Friday night horse pulls are a hit and are free; they begin at 6pm. Saturday harness racing returns to the fair beginning at 12:30 pm in the grandstand and many folks try their luck on “the ponies.”
Geauga County Fair has plenty of activities for the entire family, whether you like rides, animals, the arts, baking, or just strolling around sampling the fair food come out and create a memory for your family. Years from now you will be glad you did.
