Fair hits summer's high note
172nd Medina County Fair is July 31-Aug. 6
Fairgoers can avoid waiting in long lines to buy tickets to grandstand events by purchasing them ahead of time at medina-fair.com. Photos by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – Loud motors, deep-fried foods, livestock displays and run-ins with old friends and acquaintances along with a new attraction or two are just some of the things that keep people coming back to the Medina County Fair every year.
This year’s installment will go from Monday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 6, with plenty of new attractions and sights paired with old favorites.
Regular fair admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 2 to 11 and senior citizens over age 65 and free for those under 2.
Pam Oberholtzer of the Medina County Fair Board said there are several days where discount admission is available and encourages anyone eligible to take advantage. On July 31, any veteran with ID gets free admission all day and children 11 and under get in free from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 2. Akron Children’s Hospital is also sponsoring free children’s activities in the pavilion that day.
“We’re trying to make it a little easier for families to come,” she said.
On Sunday, Aug. 6, anyone that donates a non-perishable food item will get $1 off admission, with the items going to the Lodi Good Samaritans food pantry. In addition, first responders, including police officers and medics with ID, get free admission that day.
Big-name musical entertainment will return this year after a two-year hiatus, with country artists Gary Allan and Brothers Osborne coming to the grandstand Thursday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m.
The other grandstand events will also be returning, including two demolition derbies July 31 and Aug. 4, Motocross Aug. 1; Rough Truck Aug. 2 and Buckin’ Ohio Rodeo moving to the last night of the fair Aug. 6.
Tickets for all grandstand acts can either be purchased at the fair office on West Smith Road, online at medina-fair.com or at the booth south of the grandstand during fair week. Tickets can also be purchased by downloading the Ticketracker app on iTunes or Google Play.
For the first time this year, beer will be sold every day but Sunday in an enclosed beer garden just north of the main grandstand, a move that came after over a year of deliberation by a committee. About half of the county fairs throughout the state sell alcohol in some capacity, according the Medina County Fair Board.
The Fair Queen and King will be crowned July 31 with a contest starting at 7 p.m. in the pavilion, with the winners formally presented during the demolition derby going on at the same time. This year, eight girls and two boys representing the county’s 4-H clubs are participating.
Back this year after a break are the talent show and karaoke contests, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2 starting at 6 and 9 p.m. respectively. Registration for the karaoke contest will not begin until noon that day.
Oberholtzer said those not going to the big country concert can still listen to live music most evenings in the pavilion starting at 8 p.m. with genres ranging from bluegrass to oldies. Bands returning this year will be The Diamond Project (Neil Diamond Tribute) Friday, Aug. 4 and The Rebeats (Beatles tribute/’60s band).
The Agriculture Tent (now called Ag Acre) is returning behind the community center and will continue to feature agriculture demonstrations, including a mechanical milking cow, animal displays along with presentations by county farmers. There will also be special activities for children from 3-6 p.m. daily, which will include something to make and take home.
Along with Ag Acre, the Medina County Farm Bureau is also hosting a scavenger hunt, with participants who complete it receiving a prize upon turning it in at the bureau’s booth.
During the weekend, there will be the the Kiddie Tractor Pull on Saturday, Aug. 5 starting at 10 a.m. and the annual fiddle contest starting at 1:30 p.m. in the pavilion. The Ohio State Armwresting Tournament will be Sunday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. also the pavilion, with different weight classes for both men and women. Registration is free for all three events.
The fair traditionally ends with fireworks from the grandstand at 10 p.m. Aug. 6.
This year’s installment will go from Monday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 6, with plenty of new attractions and sights paired with old favorites.
Regular fair admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 2 to 11 and senior citizens over age 65 and free for those under 2.
Pam Oberholtzer of the Medina County Fair Board said there are several days where discount admission is available and encourages anyone eligible to take advantage. On July 31, any veteran with ID gets free admission all day and children 11 and under get in free from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 2. Akron Children’s Hospital is also sponsoring free children’s activities in the pavilion that day.
“We’re trying to make it a little easier for families to come,” she said.
On Sunday, Aug. 6, anyone that donates a non-perishable food item will get $1 off admission, with the items going to the Lodi Good Samaritans food pantry. In addition, first responders, including police officers and medics with ID, get free admission that day.
Big-name musical entertainment will return this year after a two-year hiatus, with country artists Gary Allan and Brothers Osborne coming to the grandstand Thursday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m.
The other grandstand events will also be returning, including two demolition derbies July 31 and Aug. 4, Motocross Aug. 1; Rough Truck Aug. 2 and Buckin’ Ohio Rodeo moving to the last night of the fair Aug. 6.
Tickets for all grandstand acts can either be purchased at the fair office on West Smith Road, online at medina-fair.com or at the booth south of the grandstand during fair week. Tickets can also be purchased by downloading the Ticketracker app on iTunes or Google Play.
For the first time this year, beer will be sold every day but Sunday in an enclosed beer garden just north of the main grandstand, a move that came after over a year of deliberation by a committee. About half of the county fairs throughout the state sell alcohol in some capacity, according the Medina County Fair Board.
The Fair Queen and King will be crowned July 31 with a contest starting at 7 p.m. in the pavilion, with the winners formally presented during the demolition derby going on at the same time. This year, eight girls and two boys representing the county’s 4-H clubs are participating.
Back this year after a break are the talent show and karaoke contests, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2 starting at 6 and 9 p.m. respectively. Registration for the karaoke contest will not begin until noon that day.
Oberholtzer said those not going to the big country concert can still listen to live music most evenings in the pavilion starting at 8 p.m. with genres ranging from bluegrass to oldies. Bands returning this year will be The Diamond Project (Neil Diamond Tribute) Friday, Aug. 4 and The Rebeats (Beatles tribute/’60s band).
The Agriculture Tent (now called Ag Acre) is returning behind the community center and will continue to feature agriculture demonstrations, including a mechanical milking cow, animal displays along with presentations by county farmers. There will also be special activities for children from 3-6 p.m. daily, which will include something to make and take home.
Along with Ag Acre, the Medina County Farm Bureau is also hosting a scavenger hunt, with participants who complete it receiving a prize upon turning it in at the bureau’s booth.
During the weekend, there will be the the Kiddie Tractor Pull on Saturday, Aug. 5 starting at 10 a.m. and the annual fiddle contest starting at 1:30 p.m. in the pavilion. The Ohio State Armwresting Tournament will be Sunday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. also the pavilion, with different weight classes for both men and women. Registration is free for all three events.
The fair traditionally ends with fireworks from the grandstand at 10 p.m. Aug. 6.