Hancock County Fair to offer lots of old favorites

Craving a corndog? Pining for a peek at the biggest pumpkin? Dreaming of draft horses? Yearning for a free yardstick? You're in luck, because it's time for the Hancock County Fair. Visitors will find old favorites like harness racing, a calf scramble, demolition derby and the Junior Fair livestock auction. A new attraction this year is a Figure 8 Demolition Derby, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 4 in the south grandstand. Instead of a track in the shape of an oval, Darrell Baird, president of the Hancock County Agricultural Society, said this racing track features a crossover in the very middle. The 2023 edition of the Hancock County Fair begins Tuesday with opening ceremonies and the coronation of Junior Fair royalty at 7 p.m. in the Old Mill Stream Centre. Fair events manager Haley Reese said sponsors will be recognized and the fair board will award two $2,000 scholarships. "We will recognize those kids at the opening ceremony that have been selected for that. But then there will be a check presentation, we'll have the great big checks blown up, during the horse pull on Saturday night," she said. The National Anthem and a military color guard will be part of the ceremonies. Chamber Ambassadors will also be on hand for the opening of the fair. The first full day of activities is Wednesday. The fair will continue through Monday, Sept. 4. This year's theme is "Once Upon a Time at the Hancock County Fair." "One of the things people will notice when they come this year, like many businesses that have dealt with COVID and worker shortages, we did have to go with a different tent company this year," Baird said. "So all of the tents will be white. There won't be colored tents this year. That will be something that people notice right away." The main entrance to the public is the McCleary Gate off Fishlock Avenue. New this year will be a walk-in gate on East Sandusky Street. Gates accepting cash for any fair ticket will be accepted only at the walk-in gate off Sandusky Street, the McCleary Gate and the south grandstand gate. Wednesday is Veterans Day at the fair, when veterans will be admitted free with proper identification. Throughout the day, visitors can watch the judging of open class farm products, horticulture, woodworking, domestic arts and crafts, hobbies and collections, honey and baking in the Grange Building. A baked goods auction begins at 5 p.m. Open class contests for poultry, draft horse, draft ponies and photography will also be held along with the Junior Fair dog showmanship, obedience and best dressed contests. The sixth annual Donkey Race begins at 7 p.m. in the north grandstand. All proceeds benefit Flag City Honor Flight. Meanwhile, the south grandstand will be the location of the annual Hancock County Marching Band Show. Harness racing will be held Wednesday and Thursday in the south grandstand. Senior Day is Thursday. Any senior age 65 and older will be admitted free with proper identification. A full day of activities will be held in the Old Mill Stream Centre, including demonstrations of some of the exercise classes offered at 50 North. Seniors will also have an opportunity to spin the wheel and possibly win a prize. A country music concert featuring Genny Funk & Friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. Harness racing and a calf scramble also will highlight activities on Thursday. The Koi Drag Racing event is slated for 7 p.m. Friday in the south grandstand, while the Hancock County Barrel Battle, also at 7 p.m., will be held in the north grandstand. The open class flower show begins at noon Friday. Youth can participate in a pedal pull at the Old Mill Stream Centre. The Junior Fair goat obstacle course also will be held. The demolition derby and open class horse team pulls are featured Saturday events. More open class and junior fair contests are scheduled, including the beef obstacle course and best dressed goat. A new livestock show, Shining in the Show Ring, is planned for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. The objective is to give these individuals a chance to work with Junior Fair exhibitors and their animals in an alternative livestock show to share what they have learned. Fairgoers on Sunday can look forward to the Showman of Showmen competition, the Biggest Little Pull in Northwest Ohio featuring tractors and trucks, Cloverbud graduation for the youngest 4-Hers who will be old enough for the traditional program next year, and a goat milking contest. A church service will be held in the gospel pavilion, and the Morse Family Gospel Singers of McComb will perform a free concert in the Old Mill Stream Centre. The annual Junior Fair livestock sale begins with registration at 8 a.m. Monday. The sale starts at 9. Reese said the auction is now being managed by Hitchings Insurance. "So you can go right online to our website and download the project donation forms, and you can submit payment before fair," she said. "So it's great that we have those up and ready to go. Buyers can register online. And then by Wednesday of the fair, since we will have a list of all the kids that are here with their projects, that full list will be available online for buyers to download." She said the exact sale order will not be ready until later in the week. "But at least they know what kids are here and what animals they're exhibiting," she said. "And we can take payment at the sale. So traditionally what it's been, or at least the past several years is that you buy an animal, you get sent an invoice, you pay that invoice. But you can pay before you walk off the grounds this year." PayPal is an option as well, she said. The gospel pavilion will provide "All Day Back Porch Singin'" from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Special entertainment is planned in the mini park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will also be more places to sit and rest this year. Baird said 4-H members gathered 3,000 pounds of bottle caps which were recycled into benches, 14 of which will be placed around the fairgrounds. Daily single admission is $10, which admits an adult and dependent members of the family age 9 and younger. Admission is $5 for seniors age 65 and older, and youth ages 10-17. Presale adult season tickets are $30, available through Tuesday online and at the fair office. After Tuesday, season tickets are available online only. Youth season tickets for ages 10-17 are $15, available online through 8 p.m. Tuesday. Several online specials are available — "In by 3 p.m. is Free" on Thursday, and $5 Before 5 p.m." on Friday. These passes must be acquired from online services. Event tickets include: KOI drag racing — $10, which admits one adult and dependent members of their family age 9 and younger; demolition derby — $5, grandstand, $15, pit pass; tractor pull — $10; figure 8 demo derby - $10. Lisko Family Midway Amusements, which is partnering with McGinnis Amusements, will provide all of the rides and attractions at this year's fair. Rides open at 1 p.m. with a safety break from 5-6 p.m. A wristband can be purchased for unlimited rides on Wednesday, Thursday and Monday for $20, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday for $25. Wristbands are good all day. Rides will be free from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday.