Winnebago County Fair Fun is Aug. 14-18

Winnebago County Fair Fun is Aug. 14-18

By Peggy Werner

There’s something for everyone at the Winnebago County Fair Aug. 14-18, in Pecatonica, Ill.

The fair will take over every building and outdoor space on the 108-acre site with dozens of food booths, carnival rides, nightly concerts, rodeo action, farm animals, arts and crafts and much more.

“Our focus is on the family and our board of directors always has the community at heart when it plans the fair each year,” says Michelle McCabe of the Winnebago County Fair Association. “All they want is for everyone to have a good environment where they can enjoy their family and friends.”

Deb Runte has been a part of the fair in one way or another for more than 50 years. Her dad, the late Floyd “Dobby” Anderson, was president of the fair when she was a young girl. Although the fair has evolved, one thing remains the same, she says.

“The county fair is a way of celebrating the people of the agricultural community, all the hard work they do and how important they are to all of us,” she says.

New this year is the 2019 “Bulls, Broncs and Barrels Tour” by Xtreme Roughstock Tour Rodeo of Brownsburg, Ind., with local barrel racing at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Grandstand, preceded by family hour from 5:30 to 6:30 to meet the cowboys and see the animals. The rodeo will include a 4-H calf giveaway, freestyle bull fight, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for those 9-12 and free for age 8 and under. Call the fair office at (815) 239-1641 to sign up for barrel racing.

Entertainers LetSinger of Rockford will perform a mix of country and rock music at 7 p.m. in the entertainment tent.

Also new this year is a Lumberjack Show, an interactive Lumberjack Camp, a Butterfly Encounter and an Inflatable Planetarium Wednesday through Sunday.

Manager Ryan Vawter of Modern Midway will bring about 30 rides to the fair, including the brand new Dragon Coaster, an LED-lighted roller coaster made in Czechoslovakia and one of only a few being used in the U.S. The Hyper- Loop, the most popular ride last year, will be back. Riders are seated in a fourlegged pendulum that spins, swings and rotates around the base structure.

“It is not for the weak-hearted,” Vawter says.

Gates open at noon each day. On Wednesday, get one free admission with two non-perishable, non-expired food items to benefit the Rockford Rescue Mission.

Carnival rides, The Butterfly Encounter and an Antique Tractor Display begin at noon; the lumberjack show begins at 1 p.m. and an interactive Lumberjack Camp is at 3 p.m. K-9 demonstrations are at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m., and at Moss Hall see Magic Mike at 2 p.m., Los Moralitos Circus at 2 and 6 p.m.; inflatable planetarium at 1:30, 3:30 and 4 p.m.; Queen and Junior Miss Pageant at 6 p.m.

The 2018 Winnebago County Fair Queen, Alexi Bladel, was crowned Miss Illinois County Fair Queen in January. This is the first time a queen has won from Winnebago County, McCabe says.

On Thursday, many of the previous day’s activities will repeat and the Kindschi pedal pullers will perform at 5 p.m. There’s an Antique Tractor Parade at 6:30 p.m., Little Miss Pageant at 6 p.m.; Truck Races at 7 p.m. in the Grandstand and Soul 2 Soul, a classic ’70s band, performs at 8 p.m.

Friday highlights include the 4-H Fashion Review at 6 p.m. in Moss Hall; 4-H Performing Arts Contest at 7 p.m. in Moss Hall; Badger State Hot Rod Tractor Pulls at 6:30 p.m. in the Grandstand; and Audio Drive, an ’80s rock band, at 9 p.m.

Saturday includes a 4-H Livestock Auction at 1 p.m. in the Cattle Barn; Mexican Dance Performance called “Dance of the Elders” at 4 p.m.; Hoo Haven at 5 p.m.; 4-H Family Fun Night at 5:30 p.m. in building 2; and the Illini State Pullers truck pull at 7 p.m. in the Grandstand. Country Band Blue Steel will perform from 4 to 8 p.m. and fivetime RAMI award-winning Sunset Strip, an ’80s Glam/Hairband tribute, will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday’s events will conclude with a Demo Derby at 2 p.m. in the Grandstand. The Midway closes at 6 p.m. All other nights, the Midway closes at about 10 p.m, weather permitting.

General admission is $5 Wed., Thurs. and Sun.; $7 Fri. and Sat. Wed. is Senior’s Day; Thurs. is Kid’s Day (12 and younger). Age 8 and younger are admitted free to the fair and grandstand events daily. Learn more at winnebagocountyfair.com. ❚