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Take me out to the fair!
I's the end of July, and that means one thing – time for the Loudoun County Fair.There's a lot more than grand champion steers and rotund hogs at the fair – although there are lots of those. This fair is for the whole family.
Entertainment abounds every evening, everything from the minivan demolition derby, flying thrills circus and professional rodeo, to some good down-home bluegrass music and professional wrestling. And don't miss the hay bale toss and the hog calling.
The carnival opens Tuesday, and the rides and games are ready and waiting every evening through the week.
Hungry? 4-H clubs host home-cooked dinners Tuesday, July 29 through Saturday, Aug. 2 – take your pick of chicken, lamb, beef, pork and shrimp.
More events:
Not to be missed: Bunny dress-up, watermelon eating contest, Agricadabra for the young and young at heart, chiffon cake judging, and Kiss-A-Pig.
Definitely not to be missed: Livestock auction Friday night. Support the hard-working 4-H exhibitors and take home enough freezer beef (or lamb or pork or goat) to last a year.
Decidedly not to be missed: Stockman's contest, parade of animals, horseshoe competition and livestock obstacle course.
Plan your week:
Sunday, July 27 – The gates open at 4 p.m., and the horses strut their stuff – Gambler's Choice Trail and Jumping – in the horse ring. At 6:30 p.m., the Miss Loudoun Fair Pageant.
Monday, July 28 – At 7 a.m., the livestock start to arrive, and baked goods and flowers start to fill Sykes Hall. The gates open for the public at 4 p.m., just in time for the livestock weigh-in and the fair dedication. Dinner put on by 4-H leaders at 5, then take in the corn-on-the-cob eating contest at 6:30, and head for Sykes Hall Field at 6:45 for the Hansen's Circus Thrill Show. At 6 p.m., the carnival midway opens. At 7:30 p.m. in the horse ring – the demolition derby with minivans.
Tuesday, July 29 – 4-H livestock judging gets going in earnest: hog weigh-in, llama show, horse demonstration, dairy show, goat show and sheep showmanship. The goat club puts on a shrimp dinner at Sykes Hall at 5 p.m. Finish dinner and head for the midway rides and games, the KYDA Professional Wrestling and the Hansen's Circus Thrill Show.
Wednesday, July 30 – All seniors free until 4 p.m. Bingo in Sykes Hall at 9:30 a.m., and magic show for seniors at 11:30 a.m. Beef club hosts dinner at 5 p.m., midway opens at 6 p.m., and Scott Hisey's Country Music takes over the horse ring at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 31 – Children younger than 15 free till 4 p.m. (children younger than 6 are always free). Beef, rabbits and horses on display in the morning. Steer show at 4 p.m., and the sheep club dinner at 5 p.m. Flint Hollow bluegrass at 5:15, pie eating contest at 7 p.m., and the rodeo is off and running and bucking at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 1 – Heifers, rabbits (including bunny dress-up at noon), watermelon eating all day and poultry club dinner at 5 p.m. The livestock auction takes over the main barn at 6:30 p.m. Sign up for a bidder's paddle and get ready to bid.
Saturday, Aug. 2 – Hog calling, horseshoes, obstacles courses, rabbit care and animal dress-up. One lucky fundraiser will "Kiss-A-Pig" at 6:30, right before the rodeo starts at 7 p.m.
Go to loudouncountyfair.com for a complete schedule, ticket information and directions to the fair grounds just west of Leesburg. Go to LoudounTimes.com during the week for updates and photos of the action.
-- Shannon Sollinger, Times-Mirror Staff Writer
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