Wayne County Fair runs Saturday through Thursday: Here's all you need to know
WOOSTER — The Wayne County Fair is where the community comes together to celebrate agriculture, youth, 4-H, OSU Extension and the work of many.
The 174th Wayne County Fair, Ohio’s Foremost Agricultural Fair, begins Saturday, Sept. 9, and runs through Thursday, Sept. 14, featuring special days, events and activities for patrons of all ages.
The gates will open to the public at 8 a.m. each day, with all commercial and exhibit buildings scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
General admission is $4 with children 6-years-old and under free. Veterans Day is Tuesday, Sept. 12. All veterans are admitted free with ID.
Senior Citizen Day for ages 65 and over is Wednesday, Sept. 13. Admission for senior citizens is free on Wednesday.
Fair Manager Matt Martin says fairs are the fabric of the community, and anyone who enters the Wayne County Fairgrounds, located on Vanover Street in Wooster, can see the agricultural influence.
Repairs have been made throughout the grandstands, the horse barns and a fresh coat of paint on some of the buildings makes everything looks nice.
New for 2023
Martin said there are many updates and changes for this year's fair, including The Fiddle Contest being expanded to include banjos, plus a new promoter for the Demolition Derby. ‘Smash It’ will be running the event scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m.
The antiques department competition will undergo major changes as well this year. These are the first changes since its inception more than 30 years ago. Entries will no longer be attached to specific time periods. Items 50 years and older can be entered in a wide variety of categories. Also, entrants are now limited to 10 items total for the competition.
Coliseum centennial
And while there are some new events, the fair will also be celebrating something old.
The Coliseum turns 100 years old this year, and Martin said there are plans to celebrate the centennial.
"We've had some proclamations from government officials, and we have a little bit of merchandise commemorating the coliseum that will be available down in the information booth," he said. "Over this coming winter we're going to strip it down and paint it, which will be about a month-and-a-half process."
Martin noted there will also some new vendors this year, including locals Ott's Coffee and Boba Bowl, Wayne County's only bubble tea shop.
Southwest Soda Saloon, a seller of various kinds of root beers will also be new at the fair this year, along with Chuckwagon, old time barbecue stacks.
"All the favorites will still be here with some additional new ones," he said.
Grandstand events
Entertainment on tap for this year’s fair includes country music superstar Tracy Lawrence, who has sold more than 13 million albums and charted 18 No. 1 hits over the last 32 years. Lawrence takes center stage Sunday, Sept 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20 grandstands to $25 for track seats.
Breaking down life’s most challenging moments into digestible proclamations of faith is the cornerstone of the Casting Crowns brand of music. Singable truths that point to Jesus is what their music is all about. The play Monday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $27 for grandstands to $37 for track seats.
Lou Gramm the former voice of the rock band Foreigner is also scheduled to perform Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. He is a true ‘Juke Box Hero’ who has been touring with his own band since 2004.
Gramm met fellow musician Mick Jones performing in Rochester, New York in 1976. Jones invited Gramm to audition for the lead singer job with Foreigner and the band created numerous Billboard Top 20 hits, including Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, Long, Long Way from Home, Hot Blooded, Urgent, Double Vision, Dirty White Boy and Head Games.
He released a solo hit single Midnight Blue in 1987. He has been performing nonstop for more than 50 years, performing many of his old Foreigner hits. Tickets range from $20 grandstands to $30 for track seats.
Grandstand schedule
OSTPA Truck/ Tractor and Semi pull, Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
Tracy Lawrence takes center stage Sunday, Sept. 10, at the grandstand.
There will be a local tractor pull at 12 noon on Monday, Sept. 11. At 8 p.m. Monday, the Castling Crowns will be the main event.
There will be para-mutual wagering harness racing at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and Lou Gramm will be the main event at 8 p.m. at the grandstand
Mutton busting takes place at 6 p.m., followed by the Buckeye Rodeo at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
Northern Ohio Outlaws Cowboy Mounted Shooters are the main event Thursday, Sept 14m from 12 to 2 p.m. in the grandstand, with the Smash It Demolition Derby closing out the fair Thursday at 7 p.m.
Another must see show will be Dr. Dave of the Whiz Bang Science Show. He will be performing his ‘Under the Big Top: Science in the Circus show, focusing on the physics behind the awesome stunts performed by the circus entertainers. This free show will be Monday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the entertainment tent. Each show lasts about 30 minutes.
Ride schedule and unlimited ride prices
Saturday - Sunday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., $25
Monday - Kids Day 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., $20
Tuesday - Kids Day 12 p.m. – 10 p.m., $20
Wednesday Stroller Day (only Kiddie Rides) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., $15; All Rides 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. , $20
Thursday 4 p.m. – 10 p.m., $20
Ride Prices are $1 per ticket or 12 for $10; Major rides take 5 tickets. Presale wristbands at www.batesbros.com. Presale Mega (all week ride) pass costs $85.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 174th Wayne County Fair runs Saturday through Thursday
