Entertainment increasing this year at Wyandotte County Fair, which runs Tuesday through Saturday

The Wyandotte County Fair will begin on Tuesday, July 9, and preparations are underway at the fairgrounds at 137th and Polfer Road in Kansas City, Kansas. More information is at https://www.wycofair.com/.
Preparations are underway for the Wyandotte County Fair, from Tuesday, July 9, through Saturday, July 13, at the fairgrounds at 137th and Polfer Road, Kansas City, Kansas.

Entertainment will be enhanced at this year’s Wyandotte County Fair, with musical acts and other entertainment scheduled throughout the five-day event.

Preparations are underway for the fair, which runs from July 9 through July 13 at the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds at 137th and Polfer Road in Kansas City, Kansas. Go north on K-7, continue on K-7 north of Leavenworth Road and north of Hollingsworth Road, and turn east on Polfer Road, to 137th.

Jim Knetter, chairman of the fair board, said probably the biggest changes from last year are more entertainment acts at the fair.

There will be different musical groups almost every night, he said. Friday night, there will be a classic car show. This year, the fair will offer helicopter rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

One of the fair’s biggest draws, the mud run, will return on Saturday evening, he said.

Special contests to be held

Special contests were planned for the fair this year. On Monday morning, entries were accepted for the special yeast bread competition, Legos contest, “made from recycled materials” contest and “best jar of canned product” contest.

The biggest prizes will be awarded for the fair’s homemade 8-inch fruit pie contest. It will accept entries from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 13, with prizes of $25, $75 and $100 awarded. Rules for this contest are online at www.wycofair.com.

Entertainment at the fair

The first day of the Wyandotte County Fair, Tuesday, July 9, will feature Chris Stewart at 5:30 p.m. and Kerosene 6 at 7:45 p.m. performing on the Main Stage. The Big Dave Show will begin at 7 p.m. at the Entertainment Tent.

It will be $20 wristband night at the carnival, with those attending able to ride all carnival rides for $20.

Gates open at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, and close at 10 p.m. The same hours are in effect Wednesday and Thursday. Friday’s hours will be 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday’s hours are noon to 11 p.m.

Wednesday’s entertainment will be DJ Aaron Fries at 5 p.m. followed by The Rippers at 7:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. The Entertainment Tent will feature Back Road Express at 7 p.m. It will be $25 wristband night for the carnival.

Thursday, DJ Luigi Franko will be at the Main Stage at 5 p.m.; Imperio Sierreno will entertain at 7:15 p.m. and Son Selecta is featured at 8:45 p.m. at the Main Stage. The Entertainment Tent will feature the Reyes Brothers Band at 7 p.m. It will be $20 carnival wristband night.

Thursday also will be Donnelly College Student and Alumni Night at the fair,

On Friday, DJ Aaron Fries will be on the Main Stage at 5 p.m., followed by a Janet Jackson Tribute band at 7:30 p.m. and Material Girl, a Madonna and Lady Gaga tribute band, at 8:15 p.m. The Sully Brothers will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Entertainment Tent. It will be $25 carnival wristband night.

A vintage car show is planned on Friday, as well as seniors day at the fair.

Friday will be Kansas City Kansas Community College Student and Alumni Night.

Saturday, the fair will open at noon, with the MidWest Mud Boggers Mud Run at 7 p.m. in the fairgrounds arena.

DJ Aaron Fries will be on the Main Stage at noon Saturday. Ritch Henderson is scheduled at 3:15 p.m. on the Main Stage, followed by Crossroads Youth Music Team from Dallas, Texas, at 5 p.m. Silver Streak will perform on the Main Stage at 6:15 p.m., followed by Edge of Forever, a Lynyrd Skinner Tribute Band, at 8:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. Stranded in the City will perform in the Entertainment Tent. It will be $25 carnival wristband night.

Regular fair events

The regular fair events, including Hedricks Pig Races, food concessions, a carnival, a marketplace and a magic show at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Red Barn, will continue. Helicopter rides and large kites are planned, weather permitting.

4-H events

The Wyandotte County 4-H events for the fair include a dog show at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday; poultry show at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday; pet and cat show at 1 p.m.; demonstrations and public speaking at 2 p.m. Tuesday; sheep show at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday; and goat show at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the 4-H beef show will be at 9 a.m.; the bucket calf show will be after the beef show; and swine judging will be at 7 p.m.

Thursday, the horse show – halter classes will be at 9:30 a.m.; and round robin competition at 7 p.m.

Friday, the horse show – performance is scheduled at 9:30 a.m.; the livestock buyers’ dinner will be at 6 p.m.; bucket calf parade at 7 p.m.; and livestock auction at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, the horse show – timed events will be at 9:30 a.m. There is no charge to see the morning 4-H shows.

Admission charge

Tickets to the fair are $2.50 per person if purchased before July 9 at wycofair.com, and $5 per person from July 9 to July 13, with ages 12 and younger free. Parking is $5.

More information, including a schedule of events, is online at https://www.wycofair.com/.

Preparations are underway for the Wyandotte County Fair, from Tuesday, July 9, through Saturday, July 13, at the fairgrounds at 137th and Polfer Road, Kansas City, Kansas.
Preparations are underway for the Wyandotte County Fair, from Tuesday, July 9, through Saturday, July 13, at the fairgrounds at 137th and Polfer Road, Kansas City, Kansas.

Wyandotte County student working in theater this summer

Kat Anderson

Kat Anderson, Edwardsville, Kansas, a student at Webster University, is working at the Timber Lake Playhouse, in the St. Louis, Missouri, area this summer.

Anderson is in the costume design program working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Webster.

Timber Lake has a national reputation for excellence as a professional summer stock theater, serving as a launch pad for theater artists.

The Conservatory of Theater Arts at Webster, located at St. Louis, is a professional training program for acting, musical theater, directing, theater studies and dramaturgy, technical theater and stage management.

KCK blues fest attracts crowd

Danny Cox was the “king” of this year’s Kansas City, Kansas, Street Blues Festival held Saturday. (Photo by William Crum)
The audience braved a heat advisory on Saturday to attend the KCK Street Blues Festival. (Photo by William Crum)

Opinion

by William Crum

Once a year a great event happens in Kansas City, Kansas. The event is the KCK Street Blues Festival.

The annual event Saturday attracted a crowd.

After talking to people in the crowd, I met a couple from England and a young man from France. Whether you realize it or not, this event draws world attention.

One of the main performers was the legendary Danny Cox, otherwise known as the king of the festival. I have known Danny for a number of years and he is still going strong.

The event was held at the Circle L Ranch on 49th. Already plans are underway for 2020. Every year it gets better and better, making it one of those “must do” events.

Another thing I thought was amazing was it only cost $15 for this one-day event. You can’t beat it. Top jazz and blues performers right here in Kansas City, Kansas.