by Mary Rupert
The Wyandotte County Fair kicks off Tuesday, July 22, with five days of entertainment and displays planned.
Held in the evenings from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and also from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, the Wyandotte County Fair is at 13700 Polfer Road, Kansas City, Kan., which is east of K-7 and Polfer Road.
Besides arena entertainment, the county fair will include a hot air balloon ride, helicopter rides, free stage event entertainment, a carnival, a magic show, camel rides, pony rides and a petting zoo, as well as exhibits and displays of 4-H and open class animals and projects.
Amy Crouse, serving as temporary office manager for the fair, hopes for good attendance again this year. Last year’s county fair had about 40,000 attending. There is an increase in arena events this year, from three nights to five nights, and more vendors than last year, she noted.
The arena event for Tuesday night is a free concert at 7 p.m. by County Road 5. Residents are invited to come out, bring lawn chairs and enjoy listening to the music, Crouse said.
Wednesday night’s arena event at 7 p.m. features a horseshoe pitching contest, at four tosses for $1, as well as a Wyatt Earp interpreter, and a blacksmith demonstration, all in the arena.
Thursday’s arena event is a tractor pull at 6:30 p.m.; Friday night, a demolition derby at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, a mud run at 6 p.m. The tractor pull admission will be $4 for adults and $1 for children; and the demolition derby and mud run are $12 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.
Admission to the fair is free and parking is $5. There is a charge for carnival rides; wristband nights are Tuesday and Wednesday, when a wristband admission will cost $15.
Hot air balloon rides from 6:30 p.m. to dusk Wednesday will be free. Helicopter rides will be $40 and will be offered from 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Free stage tent events starting at 7 p.m. include: Kristi’s Dance Studio, Tuesday; Sully Brothers Music, Wednesday; Sully Brothers Music, Thursday; Hard Tack Concert, Friday; and Bill Morris Celtic Flavor-Modern Flair from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday; Prairie Praise Band from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday; Sagasu Family Martial Arts Demonstration from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday; and Glory Road Band from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Free magic shows will be in the Red Barn at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday; 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday; 6:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday; and 7 and 8:30 p.m. Friday.
Special contests this year will include a Homegrown Sunflower contest, with a prize; Legos contest, to enter Tuesday morning, for ages 1-12 years old; and a fruit pie contest, to enter from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.
An open steer and heifer show at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday has generated a big interest, Crouse said.
Special days include Daycare Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Seniors Day on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Advance arrangements for those days may be made by calling 913-721-2333 or 913-441-1907.
On opening day of the fair, Tuesday, Wyandotte County will be under a heat advisory. Crouse said it’s traditionally hot during fair week, and the fair will have quantities of water and lemonade available for visitors. The Fire Department and paramedics will be on standby.
“We’re hoping for a nice breeze,” she said. The fairgrounds doesn’t yet have an air-conditioned room for visitors; that will come with more funding, she added.
Some 4-H judging is taking place Monday night, and 4-H appears to have a big presence this year, she said.
“It’s coming together really well, I’m very pleased,” she said.
Crouse, who grew up in the Wyandotte County 4-H program, said working with the fair is fun because she gets to see a lot of 4-H people there helping with the crew.
For more information on the fair, visit www.wycofair.com.
Tuesday at the Fair
Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
5-10 p.m.: Carnival, Hedricks Petting Zoo, Hedricks Camel Rides, Pony Rides and Pictures, Wristband Night at Carnival for $15.
6, 7 and 9 p.m.: Hedricks Pig Races.
6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Free magic show in the Red Barn.
7 – 10 p.m.: Free Stage Tent, Kristi’s Dance Studio.
7 – 10 p.m.: Free County Road 5 Concert in the Arena.