WAPAKONETA —The 164th Auglaize County Fair begins July 31 and runs through Aug. 6.
“This is the largest event in the county that brings a little bit from each community together for a time. Every community in Auglaize County comes here,” said Fred Piehl, Auglaize County fair manager. “We have well over a couple thousand kids involved in the junior fair program and over 400 campers. We just have a lot of participation from all over the county.”
The fair board members are always looking for new things to bring to the fair to attract and appeal to a wide variety of people.
“Something new this year on Friday night at the grandstand, we have a Christian concert. The group New Song will perform,” Piehl said.
The concert is free, just pay to get into the fairgrounds.
“We have never done this before and we are excited. We teamed up with First United Methodist Church, in Wapakoneta and First Church of New Knoxville. They have had this concert in the park for a couple of years and we were looking to do something different, and they were looking for a change in place. It all worked out,” Piehl said.
The Auglaize County Fair has a variety of Christian musicians this year including Legacy Five, The Jim Brady Trio, Triumphant Quartet,The Isaacs, The Browns, Soul’d Out Quartet, New Song and Guy Penrod.
“Guy Penrod is back in the Gospel Tent. This was a major hit last year so we are bringing him back this year,” Piehl said.
Children can rest assured, as Big O Amusements are providing the always popular fair rides. Wristband prices from 1 to 5 p.m. are $15 and from 6 to 11 p.m. $16. All day is $18. On Tuesday and Saturday, which is Kids Day, the prices are $12 from noon to 5 p.m. and $16 from 6 to 11 p.m. or all day, for $18. The rides are closed daily from 5 to 6 p.m. for maintenance.
“Saturday night is packed. We have the Guy Penrod concert and tractor pull in the grandstand. Also, Nashville Crush plays Saturday night. A lot going on Saturday with a wide variety of music and events,” Piehl said.
Although every night at the fair is pretty good.
“Something else, Sunday is the cheerleading competition. Monday the king and queen coronation and high school band show sponsored by Happy Daz and Beer Barrel. A musical group, will be playing, and we are having an open air teen dance on the race track,” Piehl said.
Of course, there will be no shortages of fair food.
“We have a wide variety of that, good old fair food,” Piehl said.
The 164th Auglaize County Fair runs through Aug. 6. Admission is $8, with children nine and younger free. Weekly passes are $30 and there are daily gate admission specials:
•Aug. 1: Men’s Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. free admission with canned good or nonperishable item.
•Aug. 2: Kids and Senior Citizens Day, $20 discount for seniors with Golden Buckeye Card or other proof of age and children are free up to 18 years old from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also $5 admission with coupon from an Auglaize county Beer Barrel or Happy Daz restaurant
•Aug. 3: Ladies Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. free admission with canned good or nonperishable item
•Aug. 4: Veterans Day, free admission with proof of service.
•Aug. 6: Kids Day, free admission for children up to 18 years of age from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For information, visit http://auglaizecountyfair.org or call 419-738-2515.