The pre-fair festivities for the 175th anniversary of the Wayne County Fair promise just about everything that has ever been offered at a county fair – and more.
The kickoff to this historic milestone on Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18, will be true to tradition and include fairground food, bands, auctions, raffles and antique tractors and cars. But this milestone event doesn’t end there.
The festivities, planned by a committee over a two-year period and featuring a parade, fireworks and free public events, are intended to include everyone and everything, said fair director Tom Stocksdale.
The categories in which the parades are honored confirm this. Given the fair’s distinction as Ohio’s premier agricultural fair, best agricultural business and best agricultural production are two of the categories. But there are other themes as well – most outstanding youth group, most patriotic, most historical, best marching unit, best horse and livestock unit and more.
Ron Grosjean is Grand Marshal
Emeritus board member Ron Grosjean was elected Grand Marshal.
“I feel honoured,” said Grosjean. “I didn’t expect this at all.”
Although he believes that “other people deserve it more,” he plans to fulfill his responsibilities to the best of his ability.
Looking back is important, said exhibition director Matt Martin, and many activities highlight visitors’ past experiences.
Serving food samples from an old-fashioned chuck wagon will remind you of times gone by, as will the competition in baking your own fruit pies and baking homemade cinnamon rolls.
A mullet and beard contest is another way to revive the past, Martin said.
Participants can also try to eat the most Lerch donuts.
Preserving and honoring the past is not just the task of trade fair organizers.
“Everyone wants a piece of the Wayne County Fair,” Martin said.
Get a piece of grandstand history at live auction
The biggest memorabilia is a set of four original wooden grandstand seats that will be part of the live auction Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Event Center. Original wooden dining room chairs, two porcelain plaques with 175th anniversary logos and a 10-gallon 175th anniversary tankard will also be auctioned.
Fair memorabilia for sale includes decks of playing cards, clay pots, porcelain signs, Wendell August Forge Christmas ornaments, squeeze toys and logo T-shirts.
The program for Saturday and Sunday includes a square dance with music by the Mel Stocksdale Band, a pedal tractor competition, Northern Ohio Outlaw Mounted Shooting, and performances by the Cedar Valley Cloggers, the Twang Cats, and the Shawshank Big Band Jazz.
A raffle of $5 per ticket offers another opportunity to purchase trade show memorabilia.
Parade formation will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday in the rear parking lot of the fairgrounds. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. through Wooster. The day will end with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Sunday activities are scheduled from noon to 4 p.m.
This article originally appeared in the Daily Record: Wayne County Fair celebrates 175th anniversary with two-day party and parade
