FAIR BACK IN FULL SWING

FAIR CRAZY HAIR FAIR BACK IN FULL These girls had a hair-raising time on the Crazy Dance ride at the Gillespie County Fair carnival in 2018. This year’s fair will once again feature carnival rides. — Standard-Radio Post file photo SWING, AFTER LAST YEAR’S MODIFIED SCHEDULE

After last year’s historic and modified fair due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the 133rd Gillespie County Fair — will be back full throttle with family friendly events Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 26-29.

Sponsored by the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association, the 133rd Gillespie County Fair will include two days of live pari-mutuel horse racing, a carnival and midway, displays of agricultural and home products, a parade, queen’s contest, antique machinery displays, musical entertainment, livestock shows and more.

And with the exception of the parade, all activities take place at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds, located about two miles from downtown Fredericksburg off Texas 16 South (Kerrville highway).

Sponsored by the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association, the 133rd Gillespie County Fair opens on Thursday night, Aug. 26, with Tejano music and free admission to the grounds.

The carnival and midway will be operating, and judging will take place in the various agricultural and home products divisions.

Kicking off the 133rd Gillespie County Fair on Friday, Aug. 27, will be a 10 a.m. parade down Fredericksburg’s Main Street.

Activities shift back to the Gillespie County Fair Grounds where three full days of events are planned, including dances on Friday and Saturday nights on the outdoor pavilion.

Entertainers and other plans are being finalized, and information will be announced in the regular issues of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post.

Another highlight of the four-day exposition is the crowning of the new Gillespie County Fair Queen and her court on Friday night, Aug. 27.

Horse racing is not a new attraction to the fair and once again, live pari-mutuel horse races will be run. Pari-mutuel horse races will be run Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29.

Post time for the races both days is 1 p.m.

Throughout the four-day weekend, the Exhibition Hall will be open for onlookers to take in the many displays of agricultural home products. Fruits and vegetables, grain, hay, wool and mohair, baked goods and canned foods along with arts and crafts, sewing, plants and children’s items are featured.

Also, the Hill Country Antique Tractor and Engine Club will offer displays and will host demonstrations.

There are also a number of commercial displays and educational booths.

Admission is charged Friday through Sunday.

A wide array of foods and drinks will also be available throughout the weekend.

The Race Day Classic Steer Show will be held before the fair on July 31-Aug 1. The show is sanctioned by the Texas Junior Livestock Association.

HISTORY

Since its beginning before the turn of the century, the Gillespie County Fair has been held at numerous locations, including the banks of Barons Creek, just east of the city on the site of Old Fort Martin Scott. Later it was moved to where the Turner Hall was located on West Travis Street. (The Turner Hall was destroyed by a fire in June of 2016, and a new facility is currently under construction.)

From there, the fair was held on a knoll near what is today headquarters for the city electrical department off U.S. Highway 87 South.

Years afterward, the fair was conducted at what people today call the old fair grounds, two blocks from Main Street on the Kerrville Highway.

The present facility, located off Texas 16 South, was dedicated in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial.

The current site includes a five-eighths mile race track, grandstand, biergarten, exhibition hall, livestock barn, food court, restroom facilities, an outdoor dance pavilion and ample parking.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION:

Mailing address: Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association, P.O. Box 526, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.gillespiefair.com.

Telephone number: 830-997-2359.

Website: www.gillespiefair.com.

FAIR COURT A new queen and three duchesses were crowned on Friday night during the 130th Gillespie County Fair in 2018. Chosen were, from left, First Duchess Katelyn Meurer, Queen Whitney Spaeth, Second Duchess Triniti Chenault and Third Duchess Kayla Driver. Last year’s fair dropped the parade portion of the festivities as a precaution due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s fair will feature a parade.

— Standard-Radio Post file photo