Yeehaw! 143rd county fair kicks off Tuesday

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — One of the longest-running county fairs in Michigan kicks off next Tuesday and runs through Saturday.

Approximately 25,000 people are expected to attend the 143rd Annual Oceana County Fair at the fairgrounds at the corner of Polk Road and State Street in Hart.

“It will be the same successful fair we have all the time,” said Oceana County Fair Board President Clancy Aerts. The fair offers 4-H competitions, grandstand events, and a midway with carnival rides, games and food vendors. Fair goers can tour the livestock barns to view the 4-H animals.

A new attendee to this year’s fair will be Ronald McDonald, who is slated to appear Friday at 2 p.m. for Youth Day, Aerts said. A recent new addition to the fair returns this year for the fair’s opening night, Oceana Has Talent! The music competition begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Grandstand.

The fair closes with the exciting Auto Cross and Demolition Derby in the Grandstand Saturday night. Racers compete for big cash prizes.

Fair hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Gate admission is $3 for adults; $1 for children ages 5-12; and free for kids under 5. Free transportation is provided to and from the parking area.

Hundreds of exhibits can be viewed in the display buildings, and hundreds of trophies and ribbons will be awarded to the 4-H members who have worked hard all year in preparation for the fair.

Schedule

– Tuesday: Entry Day. Midway opens at 5 p.m.

Grandstand: Oceana Has Talent! – 7 p.m. The music competition with prizes and awards will have a free-will offering and silent auction benefitting local ministries. To register, call (231) 425-3693.

– Wednesday: Senior Citizens Day. Midway opens at 2 p.m.

Fair goers over age 60 admitted for $1 until 6 p.m.

Grandstand: Silver Stake & Great Lakes Series Harness Racing – 1 p.m. The event features four Silver Stakes races and eight Great Lakes Series races. Free admission.

Grandstand: Farm Workers Appreciation Night – 7 p.m. Music, entertainment and drawings. Free admission.

– Thursday: Midway opens at 2 p.m.

Grandstand: Presentation of Oceana 4-H Ambassadors – 6:45 p.m. Free admission.

Grandstand: 4-H Market Livestock Auction – 7 p.m. Free admission.

– Friday: Youth Day. Midway opens at 1 p.m.

Fair goers 12 and under admitted free until 6 p.m.

Grandstand: Heavyweight Horse Pulling –  2 p.m. Free admission.

Grandstand: Tractor Pull – 7 p.m. Local farm tractors compete in seven events.Admission: Adults $5 and Children 12 and under $2.Grandstand opens at 6 p.m.

– Saturday: Midway opens at 2 p.m.

Grandstand: Garden Tractor Pull – noon. Free admission.

Grandstand: Auto Cross and Car & Truck Demolition Derby- 8 p.m.Admission:Adults $10, Children 12 and under, $5. Ticket sales open at 6 p.m. Prize Money: Auto Cross $2,400; Car Demo $1,000;Pickup Truck Demo $1,000.

For a more detailed schedule with 4-H events, go to oceanafair.com/schedule.

Photos courtesy of the Oceana County Fairgrounds Facebook Page.