GEORGETOWN, Ohio | A few livestock trailers are parked near barns, and all appeared quiet at the Georgetown Fairgrounds Friday, but by Sunday the “Little State Fair” should be ready to begin competitions and exhibits.
The Senior Fair officially begins on Monday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 3, but the Junior Fair, with younger competitors begins on Sept. 27.
The parade lines up at Georgetown High School at 5 p.m., Monday, and begins to roll at 5:30 p.m.
A complete listing of activities, including parade participants is at www.thelittlestatefair.com.
According to fair trivia on its website, the first Brown County Fair was created by the fledgling Brown County Agricultural Society in 1850.
The fair has moved locations, and grown in diversity over the ensuing 164 years.
In 1851, the fair was held in Ripley, Ohio and was expanded to two days.
In 1853, it was moved to its present site in Georgetown, and expanded to a four-day event in 1855.
The cost to attend the fair for the day in 1860 was 25 cents.
Activities were added and subtracted from the program over the years, including eliminating horse racing in 1882, as a safety precaution, and adding homemade wine to the premium books in 1877.
The current center ring gazebo was added in the early 1900s.
The “Little State Fair” logo was added in the mid 1920s.
In 1966, the first Speed Tractor Pull was held with a sled which was nothing more than a boiler plate. Chairs were placed every 20 feet along each side of the track and volunteers from the audience sat on the chairs.
As the tractor began to pull and the sled passed, a person from each side would step on, adding weight to the challenger’s sled.
This year, the band Sawyer Brown is performing Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., and the popular folk music of The Moron Brothers is scheduled for the same day; Demolition derby is Monday and Tuesday; horse shows begin on Oct. 1 along with a Veteran’s Memorial Service at 6 p.m., Thursday.
Truck and tractor pulls are Wednesday through Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m., each night.
The fairgrounds are located in Georgetown, at 325 West State Street.
Parking is available at the fairgrounds and at three off-site locations, IGA Plus/Pamida parking lot, St. George Catholic Church parking lot, and the parking lot next to old IGA on South Main.
