Free attractions abound at Allen County Fair
Aug. 7—LIMA — Acrobats juggling with fire. Children digging for pre-historic fossils. Families singing karaoke at the Midway. Free attractions abound at the Allen County Fair, which returns to the Allen County Fairgrounds Friday, Aug. 18.
Free concerts at Plaza Stage and Gospel Tent: The Hardy concert may be sold out, but fair-goers can still catch shows at the Plaza Stage behind the grandstands each day. The only fee: general admission to the fair.
Performers this year include the Kevin McCoy Band, Mason Dixon Line, Dunlap & Mabe and My Cousin Eddie.
The audience will get a chance to perform too with free karaoke at the Plaza Stage, starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, Sunday, Aug. 20 and Thursday, Aug. 24.
Magician Michael Misko will perform family-friendly tricks at the Plaza Stage throughout the week as well, while the Gospel Tent will feature performers like The Guardians, Glory Way, Soul'd Out and Worship Anyway.
Petting zoos, wrestling and fossils: The Jungle Island Zoo will return to Roschman Park, where families can check out familiar and exotic animals.
New this year are the Pre-historic Dinosaur Adventures, an interactive mobile museum filled with sand, fossils and dinosaur pictures in Roschman Park, where children can dig for fossils and learn about the pre-historic era, and the Bug Safari beetle van.
War Wrestling and the Bear Hollow Wood Carvers will return to Roschman Park as well.
Midway attractions: Over on the Midway, families can watch acrobats from the Majestik Circus juggle with fire and other dangerous stunts or catch the rides, which will operate under limited hours this year due to staffing shortages.
Fair-goers can purchase pre-sale ride vouchers for $23 at the fair administration office. Vouchers are $30 during the fair.
Ride times: 5-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, through Monday, Aug. 21; 3-11 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23; 5-11 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, through Friday, Aug. 25, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26.
