By SYDNEY HERDLE
Staff writer
Fair-goers will once again be able to enjoy weeklong entertainment as the Venango County Fair returns for its 60th year starting on Saturday.
The fair, which has a theme of “Friendship is the Thread that Ties the Community Together” this year, runs from Saturday, Aug. 5, to Saturday, Aug. 12, at the fairgrounds three miles south of Franklin on Route 62. The admission fee is $6 and the grounds will close at 11 p.m. each night.
Organizers and volunteers have been busy preparing for the fair since last fall by fixing “little things in all the corners” of the fairgrounds, treasurer of the Venango County Fair board of directors Rainy Linn said.
In addition to lining up everything that is needed during the fair, volunteers have been busy continuing minor work on buildings constructed last summer to replace those that were damaged from snow buildup in 2015, according to Linn.
The Venango County Fair usually attracts around 20,000 to 25,000 people, with the Mega Trucks and demolition derbies among the most attended events each year.
“It’s a great place to bring the family,” Linn said. “(Community members) can come and enjoy it or come and volunteer. There are different ways for the community to get involved.”
The fair impacts the local economy and community by getting different local businesses and generations of families involved, Linn said, adding that the fair is one of “the best family activities there is” in the area.
Although there are no new events this year and most of last year’s events will be making a return this year, Linn said there will be new music groups coming to the fair this year, including Dead Level on Saturday and Into the Light on Sunday.
More information and a full schedule can be found online at www.venangofair.com.
Here’s a look at the Venango County Fair Schedule
Saturday
Pick up entry tags and numbers at the Fair Office.
8 a.m.-3 p.m. – Large Animal entries arrival, through back entrance. Animal check-in to barn and health papers checked. Horses use the back entrance for check-in. Health papers will be checked and stall fees collected.
Noon-3 p.m. – Registration rabbits/poultry and all non-animal exhibits
8-10 p.m. – Dead Level – Main Stage/Pulling Track
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Sunday
Pick up entry tags and numbers at the Fair Office.
8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Large animal entries arrive through back entrance. Animal check-in to barn and health papers checked. Horses use the back entrance for check-in. Health papers will be checked and stall fees collected.
10 a.m. – Worship Service – Slim Brothers – Log Cabin
11a.m. – Mega Trucks – A Throttle Kings National Qualification Event
11a.m. – Mini- Horse Pulls – Main Stage/Pulling Track
Noon-5 p.m. – Registration of rabbits/poultry and all non-animal exhibits
Noon – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
1 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Hay Bale Throwing Contest – Phillips Arena
2-4 p.m. – In the Light – Musical Group – Scrubgrass Stage
4:30 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
5:30 p.m. – All 4-H Animal Exhibitors meeting – Phillips Arena
5:30 p.m. – Sean Carey and the Transit Band – Scrubgrass Stage
6 p.m. – Market Animals weigh-ins – Barns
6:30 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
Bounce Land 5-9 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Monday
9-11 a.m. – Judging of 4-H Clothing & Textile Projects – Log Cabin
9 a.m. – Judging of all non-animal exhibits (Exhibit halls will be closed to the public until judging is completed)
9 a.m. – 4-H & Open Dairy Goat Show – Phillips Arena
10 a.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
11 a.m.-Noon – PA Game Commission Make a Blue Bird Box – Eatery Pavilion
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Drake Well “Meet -U” Exhibit – field beside main building
Noon-8 p.m. – Story Telling and Bucket Making Presentation – Bill Stumpf – Scrubgrass Stage
Noon-1 p.m. – PA Game Commission – “Life of a Tree” – Eatery Pavilion
12:30 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
1-2 p.m. – PA Game Commission – Make a Blue Bird Box – Eatery Pavilion
1 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Watermelon Seed Spitting – Pulling Track
2-4 p.m. – DCNR Forestry – Meet Smokey the Bear – Log Cabin & Animal Fur Presentation
2 p.m. – 4-H & Open Market/Meat Goat Show – Phillips Arena
3 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
3-8 p.m. – Blacksmith Exhibit – Scrubgrass Stage
4 p.m. – Hoop Dance with Theresa – Log Cabin
5 p.m. – 4-H Game Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl
5 p.m. – 4-H & Open Sheep Show, Phillips Arena
5:30 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
6 p.m. – Hoop Dance with Theresa – Log Cabin
6-9 p.m. – Dragonfly Balloons – Kelly’s Korner
6 p.m. – Baked Goods Auction, Foster Bullock
6-8 p.m. – Bingo – In Gameland
6:30 p.m. – Garden Tractor Pulls – Main Stage/Pulling Track
8:30 p.m. – Hoop Dance with Theresa – Log Cabin
Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo and Camel Rides
Bounce Land 5-9 p.m.
Gameland 1-5 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Tuesday
9 a.m. – 4-H & Open Swine Show – Phillips Arena
10 a.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Pottery Demonstration and Ceramic Painting (Cost $5 or less) – Oil Creek Earthworks Pottery Studio – Log Cabin
Noon – Free Lunch for ALL Venango County 4-Hers – Presented by: Polk-East Grove, Nicklin-Center & Reynolds – Deer Creek Charges of the United Methodist Church
Noon – 5 p.m. – PNC Mobile Learning Adventure – field beside Main Building
12:30 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
2 p.m. – Hoop Dance with Theresa – Scrubgrass Stage
3 p.m. – Nail Design Contest – Foster/Bullock
3 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
4 p.m. – Hoop Dance with Theresa – Scrubgrass Stage
4 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Pie Eating – In front of Gameland
5 p.m. – Vegetable & Fruit Carving Contest – Foster Bullock
5-8 p.m. – Jazz-N-Dazzle Face Painting – Kelly’s Korner
5:30 p.m. – Bear Hollow Wood Carving Show – Top of the Hill
6 p.m. – Farm Tractor Pulls – Main Stage/Pulling Track
6-8 p.m. – Bingo – in Gameland
7-9 p.m. – Pine Valley Boys – Log Cabin
7 p.m. – Hoop Dance with Theresa – Scurbgrass Stage
7 p.m. – Tractor and Truck Pulls – Pulling Track
Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo and Camel Rides
Bounce Land 5-9 p.m.
Gameland 1-5 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Wednesday
9 a.m. – 4-H Pleasure Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl
9 a.m. – 4-H & Open Beef Show – Phillips Arena
11 a.m. – “Who Dung It?”- Erie Zoo – Scrubgrass Stage
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Army Truck/Howitzer Display – by 1-107th Field Artillery field – beside main building
Noon – Meet the Animals – Erie Zoo – Scrubgrass Stage
Noon – Barnyard Olympics – Skillet Throwing Contest – Pulling Track
2 p.m. – Marty’s Bubble Gun Machine – Log Cabin
3 p.m. – Lego Building contest – Foster/Bullock
3 p.m. – Livestock Good Production Practices Workshop – Phillips Arena
4 p.m. – Marty’s Bubble Gun Machine – Log Cabin
5 p.m. – Rabbit Show – Kelly Barn
5-8 p.m. – Bryan Toy Caricatures – Kelly’s Korner
6 p.m. – Fair Cook-Off – “Ground Meat” – Foster/Bullock
6 p.m. – 4×4 Truck Pulls – Main Stage/Pulling Track
6-8 p.m. – Bingo – in Gameland
7 p.m. – Marty’s Bubble Gum Machine – Log Cabin
7 p.m. – Dairy Fitting Contest – TBA
7-8:30 p.m. – Pre-teen Dance – Phillips Arena (11-year-olds and younger – additional $2 admission – sponsored by Teen Council)
8:30-10:30 p.m. – Teen Dance – Phillips Arena ages 12 and up ($2 a person additional admission to the Fair admission – sponsored by Teen Council)
Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo and Camel Rides
Bounce Land 5-9 p.m.
Gameland 1-5 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Thursday
9 a.m. – Open Game Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl
10 a.m. – 4-H Dairy Showmanship Show – Phillips Arena
11a.m.-6 p.m. – Rainbow Archery Bow Shoot – Main Stage/Pulling Track
11:30 a.m. – 4-H & Open Dairy Type Show – Phillips Arena
10 a.m.-Noon – Fishing at the Pond – Oil Creek Park DCNR
1 p.m. – “Ion Jones” – Carnegie Science Center – Scrubgrass Stage
3 p.m. – Bubble Cups – Carnegie Science Center – Log Cabin
3 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Frog Jumping Contest – Scrubgrass Stage
5-8 p.m. – Jazz-N-Dazzle Face Painting – Kelly’s Korner
6 p.m. – Back Porch Gold – Scrubgrass Stage
6:30 p.m. – 4-H Livestock Auction – Phillips Arena
Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo and Camel Rides
Bounce Land 5-9 p.m.
Gameland 1-5 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 11
9 a.m. – Open Pleasure Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl
9 a.m. – Senior 4-H Livestock Showmanship Contest – Phillips Arena
10 a.m. – “Make It” at the Fair – Hovercrafts (limit 30 kids) – Log Cabin
11 a.m. – Make a Chia Pet – Venango Conservation District – Eatery Pavilion
Noon – “Make It” at the Fair – Chromatography Shirts (limit 30 kids) – Log Cabin
Noon – Magician Howard Mincone – Scrubgrass Stage
1 p.m. – “Make It” at the Fair – Egg Bungee Jumping (limit 30 kids) – Log Cabin
1 p.m. – Supreme Livestock Contest – Phillips Arena
1 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Scavenger Hunt – In front of Gameland
2 p.m. – “Make It” at the Fair – Solar Cookers (limit 30 kids) – Log Cabin
2 p.m. – Magician Howard Mincone – Strolling
3 p.m. – “Make It” at the Fair – Art Bots (limit 30 kids) – Log Cabin
3:30 p.m. – Kids Pedal Tractor Pull – Sponsored by Walls Dairy Transport LLC – Phillips Arena
4 p.m. – “Make It” at the Fair – LED Throwies (limit 30 kids) – Log Cabin
4 p.m. – Magician Howard Mincone – Scrubgrass Stage
5 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Milking Contest – Milking Parlor
5:30 p.m. – Franklin Silver Cornet Band – Scrubgrass Stage
5:30 p.m. – “Eggcellent” Adventure – for 4-H clubs, need teams of 5 members – Phillips Arena
6 p.m. – Magician Howard Mincone – Strolling
6-9 p.m. – Dragonfly Balloons – Kelly’s Korner
6:45 p.m. – Flag Ceremony – presented by the 1-107th Field Artillery Color Guard – Pulling Track/Main Stage
7 p.m. – Compact & Midsized Cars Demo Derby – Pulling Track
9 p.m. – Joy Ride – Scrubgrass Stage
Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo and Camel Rides
Bounce Land 5-10 p.m.
Gameland 1-5 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 12
9 a.m. – Open Pet, 4-H Pet & 4-H Cat Show – Phillips Arena
10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Home Depot Make and Take – Log Cabin
10:30 a.m. – 4-H Dog Show – Phillips Arena
10:30 a.m. – Kids Sip N Paint (limit 20 kids) – Downstairs Auditorium
11a.m. – Fireman’s Water Battle – Parking lot field
Noon – Kids Sip N Paint – limit 20 kids – Downstairs Auditorium
Noon-4 p.m. – Jaz- N-Dazzle Face Painting – Kelly’s Korner
Noon – Magician Howard Mincone – Strolling
1 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Animal Costume Contest – Phillips Arena
2 p.m. – Magician Howard Mincone – Scrubgrass Stage
2:30 p.m. – “Harvest for Health” and “Box Social Auction” – Phillips Arena
3 p.m. – 4-H Awards Program – Phillips Arena
4 p.m. – Magician Howard Mincone – Strolling
4:30 p.m. – HOLeY Jeans – Scrubgrass Stage
5 p.m. – Barnyard Olympics – Crosscut Saw Contest – Phillips Arena
5:30 p.m. – Power Wheels Derby – Pulling Track
6 p.m. – Magician Howard Mincone – Scrubgrass Stage
6-9 p.m. – Dragonfly Balloons and Airbrush Tattoo’s – Kelly’s Korner
7 p.m. – Full Size Cars, Minivan, Compact Trucks & SUVs Demo Derby – Pulling Track
Dusk – Bonfire and Fireworks
Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo and Camel Rides
Bounce Land 5-10 p.m.
Gameland 1-3 p.m.
Fairgrounds Close at 11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 13
6-11a.m. – Release of animal entries
8-11a.m. – Release of all entries
