By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The 87th annual Western Michigan Fair begins Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Mason County Fairgrounds, featuring five days of livestock shows, carnival rides, grandstand entertainment and agricultural exhibits through Saturday.
This year’s fair carries a patriotic theme celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States and includes Veterans Appreciation Day on Tuesday, Senior Citizens Day on Thursday, nightly grandstand entertainment and a full slate of youth livestock competitions.
Daily fair admission is $5 per person, with children ages 5 and younger admitted free. Veterans receive free admission Tuesday, while senior citizens age 60 and older are admitted free Thursday. Carnival rides require the purchase of ride tickets or wristbands, with pricing available through T.J. Schmidt Carnival.
Tuesday’s opening day features the swine show at 9 a.m., exhibit buildings, harness racing and the horse show opening at noon, the midway opening at 3 p.m., the West Michigan Pullers tractor and truck pull at 7 p.m. with $10 grandstand admission, and the Great Lakes Fireworks show choreographed to music at 10 p.m. Admission to the fireworks show is included with fair admission.
Wednesday is Kid’s Day, featuring discounted midway wristbands during the afternoon, horse, beef and rabbit shows, a kid’s bike drawing and TNT Bump & Run Racing at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $10, with pit passes available for $20.
Thursday includes the poultry and dog shows, Special Kids Day, the Read for Rides program sponsored by Mason County Libraries and T.J. Schmidt Co., and the Super Kicker Rodeo at 7 p.m. featuring pre-show entertainment by country singer Dewayne Spaw. Grandstand admission is $15.
Pre-fair activities include harness racing today, beginning at 4:40 p.m. along with sheep and goat showings this afternoon.
Friday’s featured events include fun equestrian games, a pedal pull for children and SJO Super Cross Racing at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $10, with pit passes available for $15.
The fair concludes Saturday with the Barnyard Boogie 5K, Barn Brawl youth wrestling, the West Michigan Livestock Council livestock auction and TNT’s Mid-Season Championship Demolition Derby at 6 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15, with pit passes available for $25.
In addition to the grandstand events, fairgoers can enjoy livestock exhibits, homemaker displays, commercial vendors, food concessions and carnival rides operated by T.J. Schmidt Carnival throughout the week.
A complete schedule, ride pricing and additional information are available at masoncountyfairgrounds.com.
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