The 164 annual Old Reliable Germantown Fair is set for July 28, at the Germantown Fairgrounds.
Kitten Gilligan, member of the Germantown Fair Board, said the fair is one of the oldest continuous fairs in the United States. Turnout for the fair is usually positive, she said, provided the weather is favorable, with most attending on Fridays and Saturdays.
The fair’s main draw, Gilligan said, is usually between the baby shows, tractor pulls and livestock sales.
“It varies,” Gilligan said. “The truck and tractor pulls are always a big pull. If it makes a lot of noise and throws a lot of dirt, it’ll draw a crowd.”
Some of the newer events also garner the interest of visitors. Gilligan mentioned the Central Kentucky Remote Control Pullers and lawn mower obstacle course as new events, having started a year ago, that are beginning to see a large turnout.
Gilligan said the fair also encourages visitors with its ‘pay one price’ of $10 throughout the entirety of the fair. Families will also get a nice break with the fair’s family fun night, where admission is half-priced on Tuesday, July 31.
The fair will begin on Saturday, July 28 with the swine show at 10 a.m. and the Howie Howe Memorial tractor pull and Germantown horse show at 7 p.m. Rides will not be available on that day.
On Monday, July 30 there will be a power tractor pull at 6:30 p.m., demolition derby, chicken rodeo, Miss Germantown Fair pageant and Little Miss and Mister pageant at 7:30 p.m. and the greased pig contest at 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday, July 31 will have floral hall entries from 8 a.m.- 2:45 p.m., Miss Teen and garden tractor pull at 7:30 p.m. and a cake auction at 8:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 1 will have livestock showmanship at 5 p.m., KOI truck and quad drags at 7 p.m., Miss Pre-Teen Pageant and backseat driver contest at 7:30 p.m. and the backpack blower competition at 8 p.m.
On Thursday, Aug.t 2 there will be a livestock show at 9 a.m., tractor driving contest at 7 p.m., Battle of the Bluegrass pulling series and Baby Miss and Mister pageant at 7:30 p.m. and the Tiny Miss and Mister pageant at 8:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 3 will have novice livestock showmanship at 9 a.m., baby show at 6:45 p.m., livestock sale at 7 p.m. and the KITPA truck and tractor pull and lawn mower obstacle event at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Aug. 4 there will be the open Kentucky dairy and beef show, both at 10:30 a.m., Central Kentucky Remote Control Pullers at 4 p.m., corn hole tournament and nail driving contest at 7 p.m. and mud sling at 7:30 p.m.
The fair runs from July 30-Aug. 4. Rides open at 6 p.m. each day.
Adams County fair is also underway this week. According to Fair Board Secretary Lisa Edmisten, the fair has seen plenty of visitors.
“We’ve had beautiful weather, a lot of people, it’s been great,” she said.
Edmisten said usually the main events visitors flock to are the demolition derby, rodeo and the various 4H events and shows.
The final day of the fair is Saturday, July 14, with the gates opening at 7 a.m. Motorcycle mania, open horse show, election of fair board members and the demolition derby sign in start at noon, cloggers at 3 p.m., demolition derby at 7 p.m. and barnyard olympics at 8 p.m.
