Fun For the Whole Herd: Dunn County Fair starts Wednesday

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE — Under the theme “Fun For the Whole Herd,” the Dunn County Fair starts today, Wednesday, July 26, and runs through Sunday, July 29.

The gates open at 4 p.m. today, and the carnival will open at 5 p.m.

For the remainder of the fair Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the carnival opens at 1 p.m.

The midway will feature Spectrum Carnival, which operates throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. 

Rides include The Gee Whiz, The Zipper, Force 10 and the Tilt-A-Whirl as well as kiddie rides such as the Rockin’ Tug and the Groovy Bus.

The Mega Pass ride armband is $100 at the carnival ticket booth at the fair and allows unlimited rides during all open times, or approximately 40 hours of rides.

The Daily Unlimited Ride wristbands may be purchased at the carnival ticket booth during the fair for $30.

Individual ride tickets also can be purchased at the carnival ticket booth.

Today is the “Sneak-A-Peek” wristband special from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday is “Two Buck Day.” From 1 p.m. until closing all rides are $2 each.

Friday is “Wristband Mania” with wristbands from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday is “Family Day” with wristbands from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday is “Last Blast” with wristbands from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about the fair, visit www.dunncountyfair.org.

Admission

Admission to the Dunn County Fair is $5 per person.

A weekly pass can be purchased for $15 per person.

Children six and under get in free.

Parking is free.

Judging

Dairy, rabbit and goat judging starts at 9 a.m. Thursday.

At 11 a.m., exotic animal judging begins.

Sheep judging is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.

Horse gymkhana and gaming begins at 3 p.m.

Swine and poultry judging is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Friday.

Beef judging starts at 1 p.m.

The horse fun show will start at 4 p.m. Friday.

The Summer Showdown Beef Show starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Horse judging also begins at 9 a.m. The Kiddy Tractor Pull will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The meat animal auction will start at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Little Britches Show is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The 4-H Pie and Ice Cream Social will be at 11 a.m.

The Dunn County 4-H Awards Ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Commercial building

The commercial building will be open Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the commercial building will be open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the commercial building will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

iHeart Media Stage

Entertainment at the iHeart Media Stage begins today with Rich Schroeder at 6 p.m.

Schroeder is a songwriter, guitar player and entertainer from Menomonie.

Chicken Ranch will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Chicken Ranch features the duo from the Thrillbillies of Dave Hughes and Colfax native Bronson Bergeson.

The Bear Creek Band will perform at 7 p.m. Friday.

This band has been voted as one of the Chippewa Valley’s top three bands for six consecutive years by the readers of Volume One Magazine. The Bear Creek Band plays a variety of musical styles, from Hank Williams and Patsy Cline to Z.Z. Top and Pink.

The Holy Rocka Rollaz will perform at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The trio plays what is described as pure early American Rock N’ Roll, such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline and Billy Haley & The Comets and uses vintage instruments.

At noon on Sunday will be The Memories Gospel Show.

At 2:30 p.m., The Memories Variety Show will begin.

The Memories celebrated their 50th year of entertaining in 2022. The duo features Warren Petryk and Tim Stevens, and their show is described as “Music, Laughter and Wonderful Times.”

Grandstand 

Fair Night at the Races with the Red Cedar Speedway begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and will feature Street Drags, USRA LM, Mods, Supers and Hornets.

Fair Night at the Races with the Red Cedar Speedway begins at 7 p.m. Friday and will feature Vintage Cars, Street Stock Tour, LM, Mods, MWM and Supers.

The Dunn County Fair Regional National Truck and Tractor Pull is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for students and senior citizens; and children 12 and under are free.

The truck and tractor pull will feature super farm tractors, two-wheel drive tractors, modified mini tractors, modified, four-wheel drive trucks, light pro stock tractors and light limited super stock tractors.

Tickets are available at the Dunn County Fair office.

The Third Annual Dunn County Fair Demo Derby will be presented by the Red Cedar Speedway at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The Red Cedar Speedway is running the demolition derby at the fair and is not affiliated with any of the past promotion groups that have put on demolition derbies in recent years.

Grandstand tickets are $10 per person, and children ages 5 and under are free.

Pit tickets are $25 per person, and $10 for ages 10 and under.

Classes are Full Size Chain ($2,000 to win); Four Wheel Drive Midsize Chain ($1,000 to win); Two Wheel Drive Mini Van/SUV ($1,000 to win), Four Wheel Drive Midsize Weld ($1,000 to win); Youth Four Wheel Drive Midsize Chain ($500 to win); Power Wheels Derby.

Payout is based on eight or more cars in a class, and an adjusted payout will be used if there are seven or fewer cars in a class.