St. Croix County Fair opens Wednesday, July 19

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — If hay bales and pigtails are your thing, then Glenwood City has just the celebration for you this week.

The St. Croix County Fair is being held July 19 – 23, and promises a wide variety of animals, crafts, vendors, and events for the whole family to enjoy.

While the fun actually kicked off with the junior fair Dog Fun Show, foods and nutrition judging, and cat show on July 15, and the fifth annual tractor caravan July 16, the main events and competitions won’t start until Wednesday, July 19.

There will be several daily events Thursday through Sunday. Kar Jackers DJ and Karaoke will be at the Horse Arena Beverage Pavilion Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Nick’s Kids Show, described as musical fun and entertainment for kids, will have multiple shows throughout the day Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Tent A, while Pickles the Clown will provide walking entertainment and balloon characters from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the same location.

The Fantasy Corral Petting Zoo will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and the pony rides next door are scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

There will also be carnival rides provided by Earl’s Rides open at 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon Saturday and Sunday. Thursday is bargain night, while Friday features $22 wristbands from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday’s bargain is $15 wristbands from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., and Sunday features a deal of three tickets for $5 from noon until 4 p.m.

All rides are one ticket per ride.

A daily parking pass costs $7, while a four-day parking pass will be just $15.

In addition to the entertainment and special features, there are many different things happening each day.

Wednesday

The fair will kick off in the morning with a 10:45 a.m. opening ceremony and flag-raising at the Croix Court entertainment stage before the first day’s activities start.

Junior fair conference judging for animal science (non-live exhibits), clothing, cultural arts, electricity, Exploring and Cloverbuds, family/child development, flowers and houseplants, home environment, in-depth displays and youth leadership, knitting and crocheting, mechanical projects, natural resources and nature space, plant and soil science, photography and woodworking will be judged between noon and 7:30 p.m.

The junior dog show is also expected to begin at 6 p.m.

Thursday

Things pick up the pace July 20, with a full judging and entertainment schedule.

Competitors in the open class home furnishing and quilts, food, flowers and houseplants, and photography can see their projects judged starting at 9 a.m., while those competing in plant and soil science will be judged at 10 a.m.

The senior citizen projects and open class home furnishings (non-quilts) will be judged at 1 p.m.

The junior fair theater arts and music program will run from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., while the Little “Kids” goat show is scheduled to start at 3:30. The junior fair sheep and goats show will begin at 4 p.m.

The 4-H style show will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Croix Court, and is immediately followed by the Key and scholarship awards. Music and drama will take center stage when 4-H participants show off their skills. The 2018 Fairest of the Fair will be crowned at 7 p.m.

The showcase event for the night is the Wisconsin Horse Pullers’ Association horse pull in the Tiffany Creek Events area. The event costs $5 for entry, though children 12 years of age and younger get in for free.

Live music at Croix Court will round out the night.

Friday

Junior fair beef exhibitors will need to be up bright and early July 21, since their show will begin at 8 a.m. The horse project will get in on the fun around 9 a.m. when they start competition for the youth trail class; they will also compete in gymkhana events starting at 1 p.m.

In addition to the large animals, the rabbits and cavies show will begin at 9 a.m., along with some open class judging.

Noon will bring around the swine project’s time to shine, as the young competitors show off their animals and what they have learned throughout the year.

Entertainment at Croix Court will include performances from Dance Explosion and ventriloquist James Wedgewood. The St. Croix County Outstanding Older Adult Award will be presented at 1 p.m., and there will be a demo from the sheriff’s K-9 unit at 4 p.m.

Those interested in fun with animals can attend the “Dress a Species” contest in front of the sheep barn at 1 p.m. before cheering on their favorite little pedaler in the kiddie tractor pull at 1:30 p.m.

The Tiffany Creek Events Area will feature the Championship Pulling Series Tractor and Truck pull starting at 6:30 p.m. It is $8 for adults to get in, $3 for children, and kids under the age of six get in for free.

Saturday

The horse project people will be the ones up earliest on July 22, as their dressage show starts at 8 a.m. with the hunter/jumper show following immediately after.

The junior dairy cattle show will begin at 9 a.m., as will the poultry show. The Little Britches dairy show will start at noon, with the senior dairy cattle show beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Wedgewood will again be performing several shows at the Croix Court, and will share the venue with River City Cloggers earlier in the day before hypnotist Sami Dare performs shows at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Saturday will provide the most eventful evening at the fair. The meat animal buyer registration opens at 5:45 p.m. with the auction starting at 6:30, while two-man ranch sorting is scheduled to start in the outdoor horse arenas at 7 p.m.

Down on the south end of the fairgrounds, ATV mud races will start at 9 a.m. Competitors wishing to participate can begin registering for the event at 8 a.m. The admission for those over six years of age is $5, while anyone aged six or under is admitted for free.

The Tiffany Creek Events Area will also feature 4 x 4 mud races starting at 5 p.m. Those wishing to compete need to register and weigh in starting at 3 p.m., and there will be a drivers’ meeting at 4:45 p.m. Adult admission for this event is $8, children ages seven to 12 can get in for $3, and those six and under have free admission.

Sunday

July 23 will start with the youth horse project pleasure classes in the outdoor arenas at 8 a.m.

Music group the Memories will lead a church service at Croix Court starting at 9 a.m., with a salute to veterans and the living memorial award presentation at 10:30. The musical comedy duo Ole and Elmer will perform starting at 11 a.m. to warm up the crowd for the local talent show and competition at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, across the creek in the camping area, the annual mud volleyball games will start at 11 a.m.

The Friends of the Fairgrounds will finish the fair at 3 p.m. with their raffle drawing before all the animals and exhibits are released at 4 p.m.