HALE – As a new week begins this Sunday, July 21, so too will the festivities surrounding the 80th anniversary of the Iosco County Fair.
Featuring nearly seven full days of celebrations, the 2024 event will be hosted at the Iosco County Fairgrounds on M-65, located ¼-mile north of the stoplight in downtown Hale.
A few activities will get the ball rolling on Sunday, including a community church service in the entertainment tent at 11 a.m. Youth and open still exhibit entries will also be accepted from 1-4 p.m., while check-in for the poultry department exhibits is scheduled from 2-6 p.m. The fair will then officially commence on Monday, July 22, and continue through Saturday, July 27.
An itinerary of the first three days is detailed later in this story, while the happenings that remain in store for the second half of the event, will be outlined in next week’s edition of this publication.
Entry will once again be free on each of the fair days, as this year’s gate admission is being comped by Katterman Trucking, Inc. and ELS Ag-Transport on Monday; Happy Acres Real Estate on Tuesday; Wilson & Sons Septic Cleaning on Wednesday; Scofield Real Estate on Thursday; TCA Insurance and Rigg Land Surveying on Friday; and Hale Area FISH on Saturday.
Welcoming crowds since 1944, the Iosco County Fair has now reached eight decades of entertainment. Therefore, “Celebrating 80 Years of Being Awesome” has been selected as the theme of the 2024 occasion. The slogan also appears on the souvenir shirts that are being sold to commemorate the latest event. Although pre-order sales have closed, a limited number of the T-shirts will be available to purchase on site this coming week.
Merging longtime fair favorites with some new activities that have been added to the agenda, there is plenty of amusement in the works as part of the 2024 fun, including a midway, grandstand events, food and merchandise vendors, art exhibits, livestock shows, raffles, contests, music, various performances and more.
The midway, which will first open at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, is again being hosted by Anderson Midways. Along with the food, games and prizes that will be available, fair goers may purchase ride tickets for $2 apiece, or a daily ride bracelet for $25. A $75 mega pass is another option, for those looking to enjoy the rides on all five days that the midway will be open.
Adjacent to this area, several shows have been slated at the exhibition grandstands of the fairgrounds. As a reminder, for security reasons, no bags or coolers will be allowed at the grandstand events. This includes purses and fanny packs – unless necessary for personal reasons – and exceptions will also be made for parents with young children; however, organizers note that any such bags will be searched before entry.
In addition to the schedule provided below, further details about the events, contest rules and more regarding the fair, can be found at IoscoCountyFair.com and facebook.com/ioscofair.
Monday, July 22:
Once the gates open at 8 a.m. on day one of the fair, still exhibit entries will be accepted from that time until 1 p.m., and livestock entries will be accepted until 4 p.m.
Shortly after opening, a youth speed show will take place in the horse arena at 9 a.m.
This will be followed by a new event, Agri-Golf, for which three miniature golf tournaments will be held each day during fair week, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Free and open to all ages, Agri-Golf is described as a complete, nine-hole mini golf course designed to entertain both children and adults – while also providing valuable insights to the world of agriculture. With each hole featuring agricultural facts from Michigan farms, organizers say that this makes for a memorable addition to the county fair. Participants will explore agricultural-themed holes with related obstacles, vibrant LED lights and challenging placement that will test their skills.
Fair guests are also being invited to the Dairy Farm to Fridge event, which is described as a “dairy” good story time. Sponsored by Iosco County dairy farmers, it will be held at 2 p.m. in the livestock building.
Similar to this and Agri-Golf, another source of free entertainment to be offered throughout the week, is the Rock-N-Circus.
There will be at least two daily performances of the spectacle, which is said to be a modern circus stunt show that brilliantly fuses the electrifying energy of the rock and roll era with a high-octane circus performance by Shane Hansen.
According to information on the county fair website, nostalgic rock music will bring everyone to an exciting mood for a heart-pounding, 25-minute extravaganza, which includes a 65-foot dive to a small air bag. The Rock-N-Circus is not just a spectator sport, either, but also an interactive experience. Audiences can prepare to be immersed in the magic, as Hansen will invite them to take part in thrilling and unforgettable moments.
The first Rock-N-Circus show is set for 3 p.m. on July 22, with another scheduled for later that evening, at 7 p.m.
Also free, and occurring multiple times per day during fair week, is the Ninja Experience. Representatives are telling attendees to ready themselves for some high-flying, jaw-dropping, in-your-face action with this unique stage production, which blends comedy and danger.
They add that crowds will watch in amazement as these top parkour athletes test their strength and agility on an intense obstacle course.
Event goers will also become a part of the experience, with what is reported to be hilarious audience participation and stunts that will have everyone on the edge of their seats. They will be able to meet their favorite ninjas for photos and autographs after the show, as well, and can even test their own ninja skills by breaking boards with the team.
Monday will mark the first presentations of the Ninja Experience at the 2024 Iosco County Fair, with showtimes scheduled for 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The annual Flag Dedication Ceremony in front of the Fair Office also starts at 4 p.m. that day, as does the opening of the commercial exhibits.
Consisting of both outside vendors and those who will be showcasing their wares in the Samson Building of the fairgrounds, the commercial exhibits will remain open until 9 p.m.
Also being featured on the first day of the fair, the Michigan Pony Pulls will begin at 5 p.m. The event will go on in the exhibition grandstand, and admission is free.
Organizers explain that the horse pull competition originated back when these animals were still used for daily farm work. Farmers would challenge one another to see whose horse could pull the most weight.
Since then, horse pulling has evolved into an organized sport with teams of equine athletes, and those from the fair are welcoming onlookers to come out and watch these beautiful animals show off their strength by hauling a weighted sled.
As is the case with the pony pulls, drawings for his and hers children’s bikes are also a tradition at the annual fair, and the first set of winners will be announced at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
A different drawing will continue to occur each day for the new bicycles, which are purchased and donated by individuals, businesses and organizations.
Names will be drawn at varying times throughout the week, and hopefuls will want to keep this in mind, as winners must be present in the Samson Building if they want to claim their prize.
Back by popular demand, the Iosco County Fair Kick-Off Party will again be the finale to the first full day of events – while simultaneously amping up the excitement and setting the stage for the festivities yet to be enjoyed in the coming days.
Admission is free to both the glow/paint/foam party and mega raffle that will be making their return on Monday, and the activities are slated to last from 6-10 p.m.
The former, which is again being put on by Jay Samborn Entertainment Company, is open to all ages. Ensuring that high energy levels are maintained well into the night, it will feature black lights, glow sticks, UV paint, music from the large sound system at the DJ stage and, of course, loads of bubbles.
In conjunction with the colorful, foamy fun – and boasting cash prizes totaling $5,000 – will be the mega raffle. As attendees await the announcement of the winning raffle ticket holders, they will also be treated to live entertainment by Muck and the Biggs Boys Band. Offering an array of music, they will perform everything from a selection of original songs, to covers of classic country hits by the likes of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard.
Tuesday, July 23:
The activities planned for the second day of celebrations – which is designated as “Armed Forces Appreciation Day” at the fair – will get underway at 11 a.m., with the start of three different events.
These entail the opening of the indoor and outdoor commercial exhibits, which will be available until 10 p.m.; the sewing and quilting demonstrations that will be given until 7 p.m. in the Dooley Building of the property, by members of the Hale Country Quilters; and the Agri-Golf tournaments, which will also go on until 7 p.m.
Those from the Rock-N-Circus crew will be back to entertain audiences at 1 p.m., and again at 7 p.m., while the Ninja Experience team will welcome spectators to their performances that have been set for both 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The livestock arena will be a popular spot on July 23, as well, beginning with the goat show at 1 p.m. Next, will be the judging of the sheep which have been entered into the 2024 county fair. This will be followed by the market beef judging and, after a dinner break, the hog judging.
The Dairy Farm to Fridge story time event will then be held in the livestock building, starting at 2 p.m.
Also beginning at 2 p.m., and remaining available until the fairgrounds close later that night, will be the first opportunity to take in the games, rides and other entertainment at the midway.
Additional options for the fair’s Tuesday visitors, include the music that will be provided by Hale Creek Band, from 4-7 p.m. in the entertainment tent; a drawing for his and hers children’s bikes at 6:30 p.m. in the Samson Building; and the Truck/Van Bump N Run, which starts at 7 p.m. in the exhibition grandstands.
Admission to the bump n run is $10, while those age 5 and under may attend for free. Onlookers can also opt for an upgrade, and purchase a seat in the pits for $20.
Members of the Iosco County Fair Board share that they created this new show for 2024, which is family-friendly and sure to be an exciting – yet comical – event. The Truck/Van Bump N Run is a race for anyone and everyone who wants to bring in a beater, race truck or even their daily driver.
The board points out that since they’re putting this event on, they are able to offer a large purse of cash prizes. This means a first place payout of $1,000; second place, $800; third place, $600; and best-looking, all-around truck (as decided by the crowd’s vote), $400.
The competition promises to be an interesting one, with a lot of vehicles expected to take part.
For interested drivers, a full list of rules can be found on the aforementioned Iosco County Fair website. Additional questions may also be directed to Jeremy Spaw, by calling 989-329-3226.
Wednesday, July 24:
Serving as the event’s theme for Wednesday, July 24, is “Senior Citizen Recognition Day.”
For those reveling in round three of the 2024 fair that day, the list of events will begin with the non-market beef and dairy judging, which starts at 9:30 a.m. in the livestock arena.
Other events kicking off in the morning, will be the judging of the animals in the rabbit and poultry building, starting at 10 a.m.; the crowning of the 2024 Senior King and Queen at 11 a.m., which will happen off-site but within walking distance, at the nearby Hale Senior Center; the commercial exhibits that will set up shop beginning at 11 a.m., and stay open until 10 p.m.; the daily Agri-Golf tournaments that will be ongoing from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and more sewing/quilting demos in the Dooley Building, courtesy of the Hale Country Quilters, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Entertainers from the Rock-N-Circus show will be performing twice on July 24, taking the stage at both 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Members of the Ninja Experience will host two sets of live entertainment, as well, with showtimes at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Also scheduled on Wednesday, is an activity for 4-H members from 1-2 p.m.; the return of the “Princess Tea Party – In the Pine Trees” event, from 1-3 p.m.; a Barbie photo shoot, also from 1-3 p.m.; another rendition of the Dairy Farm to Fridge story time, at 2 p.m. in the livestock building; and the Exceptional Showman event, sponsored by the Iosco Regional Educational Services Agency, which begins at 2 p.m. in the arena.
The midway will again be open from 2 p.m. until the fair shuts down that night and, for Senior Citizen Recognition Day, one grandparent is able to get on the rides for free, if attending with a grandchild who has purchased a bracelet.
Also among the Wednesday events, will be music in the entertainment tent by Brad Corpus, beginning at 4 p.m.; an open speed horse show in the horse arena at 6 p.m.; another drawing for his and hers children’s bikes in the Samson Building, at 6:30 p.m.; and the Night of Destruction event in the grandstands, commencing at 7 p.m.
Iosco County Fair Board members state that the Night of Destruction is typically the biggest grandstand event of the week at the annual gathering – frequently filling the stands to capacity. This year, the board is making plans for another action-filled evening, complete with school bus races, a reverse race and motorhome racing.
Representatives add that the 2023 school bus race was a smashing success. So, they had to bring it back for 2024, in what marks the third consecutive year of this particular competition.
Admission to the Night of Destruction is $10 per person, or $20 for pit seats. There is no charge for children age 5 and under.
As a reminder, the events on deck for the remaining three days of the Iosco County Fair’s 80th anniversary, will be highlighted in next week’s edition.