The 149th Grange Fair features 8 grandstand acts. Here’s who will perform, and when

The 149th annual Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair — a nine-day event in Centre Hall filled with agriculture, reunions of families and friends, great food and plenty of entertainment, is here.

The fair runs Aug. 18-26, with grandstand entertainment acts planned for nearly every night starting at 8 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Boys are set to kick off the Grange Fair’s grandstand entertainment lineup on Aug. 18. The band has “one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry,” according to its website. Members of the vocal quartet include Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. The band’s website states the “four-part harmonies and upbeat songs” have produced dozens of country hits and earned the group a Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards. Hits from the 1980s include “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue” and “American Made.”

Alex Miller and HunterGirl, two former American Idol contestants, will take the grandstand stage Aug. 19. Miller was an American Idol contestant on Season 19 and HunterGirl was the Season 20 runner-up.

Miller released a post-Idol record just last year, titled “Miller Time,” and he’s since performed at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and opened for acts such as Hank Williams Jr. Miller’s sound has been referred to as “fiercely traditional” with an “up-tempo swing approach.”

HunterGirl has performed at some of Nashville’s most famous venues, from Tootsies Orchid Lounge to Rippy’s Honky Tonk and has shared the stage with superstars such as Charlie Daniels and Trace Adkins. Her single “Red Bird” was a top-10 hit on the iTunes overall chart and she released a five-song EP last year. She’s often been praised for her songwriting, which she’s been doing since the age of 9.

On Aug. 21, Drake Milligan, an “America’s Got Talent” alum, will perform at the fair. Milligan placed third during his time on Season 17 of NBC’s hit series, “America’s Got Talent.” The 24-year-old Texas native is known for his breakout song, “Sounds Like Something I’d Do,” which hit No. 1 on the iTunes Country Single chart in 2022. Its music video hit the top spot on the iTunes Video chart, as well. In 2022, he released his debut album, “Dallas/Fort Worth.” Other song titles include “Kiss Goodbye All Night” and “Bad Day To Be A Beer.”

North Point Worship, an American contemporary worship music band from Georgia, is the grandstand entertainment schedule for Aug. 22. The group formed in 2012 at North Point Community Church and was formerly known as North Point InsideOut.

Their latest album, “Our God Will See Us Through,” was the most difficult for the band, its website states, and “marks a season of wholeheartedly trusting God in every circumstance, the good and bad.” The group is also known for songs such as “This is my Song,” “Death Was Arrested” and “Sons and Daughters.”

Fairgoers will have the chance to see Little Texas, a ‘90s country band, on Aug. 23.

The Nashville-based band hit the Billboard charts in the early ‘90s with the songs “Some Guys Have All the Love” and “My Love.” The band’s 1993 album “Big Time” was the band’s best selling album. The group recorded four studio albums before disbanding in 1997. Former band members Duane Propes, Del Gray, Porter Howell and Dwayne O’Brien reunited in 2004, and recorded a live album and a fifth studio album in 2007.

Aug. 24 will feature a tribute band for Country Music Hall of Fame’s The Statler Brothers, American Pride. The tribute band plays the songs of The Statler Brothers, a quartet that often opened for Johnny Cash, with hits such as 1965’s “Flowers on the Wall.” Like The Statler Brothers, which featured only two members who were actually brothers, American Pride does the same with Mike and Jimmy Whetsel.

Chase McDaniel’s country/rock flair will hit the grandstand stage on Aug. 25. The 29-year-old singer songwriter’s singles include “Project,” “Drop Your Tailgate” and “Your Daughter.” “Project” landed the No.1 spot on the Billboard Digital Sales and iTunes Country single charts and “Your Daughter” — a “heartbreaking track” written about his sister, according to his website — reached No. 3 (all genre).

Closing out the fair on Aug. 26 is another country singer-songwriter, Adam Calvert. He’s known for his role on MTV’s reality show, “Taking The Stage” which was nominated for a Teen Choice Award. His songs include “Where People Don’t Go,” “Silver Silverado,” “Fallback” and “Party On.” His latest single is “Pier Pressure.”

Grandstand shows begin at 8 p.m. and are free; admission to the fair is required. Past grandstand performers include Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, Gabby Barrett, Tracy Lawrence and Morgan Wallen. Even country music legend Garth Brooks played the grandstand in the ‘90s.

The Grange Fair acts as a home-away-from-home for a lot of the 1,000 families who stay in tents and 1,500 RVs at the fairgrounds. It is the only remaining tenting fair in the nation, according to its website.