Celebrate 4-H at the Allen County Fair

The Allen County Fair is back from July 26-31 at 2726 Carroll Road, Fort Wayne, providing summertime fun to families, couples, singles and everyone in between.

“There really is nothing like experiencing the timeless fun of a county fair, and it’s even more special when you can experience that right in your backyard,” says Michelle Love, secretary of the Allen County Fairgrounds’ Board of Directors and member of the Allen County Fair Committee. “Where else can you get up close with farm animals, ride a midway ride, see hot air balloons and then grab a lemon shakeup, all in one night?”

In addition to typical 4-H activities that form the essence of county fairs, this year’s Allen County Fair festivities include live music, carnival rides, a full food court and a lengthy list of family-friendly events. New activities this year include chainsaw carving demonstrations and a fun fishing experience for children, Love says. She’s proud that the fair offers a range of activities that appeal to all ages, from speakers on monarch butterflies to a Q&A with “Master Gardeners,” and even an animal contact area.

“We love to talk about our motorsports events as well,” Love adds. “We host a demolition derby, a truck pull and a classic car cruise-in during the Allen County Fair.”
Each day features unique activities. Here are just some highlighted events:

July 26, “Family Fun Day”

  • Free monster truck rides for kids ages 12 and under, 6-7 p.m.
  • Little Miss Allen County pageant, open to girls ages 2 through 12.

July 27, “Enjoy the Arts Day”

  • Home & Family Arts Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Take part in free educational seminars and entertainment with Allen
  • County Extension Homemakers.
  • Pedal Car Races for all ages, 6-7 p.m.
  • Touch-A-Truck Experience, 6-8:30 p.m. A free event for families to experience large machinery, equipment and trucks up close and personal.
  • Art & Music Night, 7-9 p.m. Performances, art demonstrations, free paper instrument crafts, an interactive art display, free paint spin art.

July 28, “Kids Day”

  • Free activities, demonstrations, performances and games, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Pizza Eating Contest, 4-5 p.m.
  • Science 4UDemos, 5:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. Free science kits while supplies last.
  • Free ice cream social, 7-8 p.m.
  • Hot air balloon fly-out and glow. Fly out: 7:30 p.m. Glow: 9:30 p.m., north grounds. Bring chairs or a blanket.

July 29, “Ag Day”

  • Free ag educational programs all day
  • Classic Car Cruise-In, 4-10 p.m.
  • Music: Biff & The Cruisers, 5-10 p.m.
  • Kiddie Tractor Pull, 6-7 p.m.
  • Farmer Olympics, 7-8 p.m.
  • 4 x4 truck pull, 7-10 p.m. $10 general admission, $20 pit passes. Kids 5 and under free.

July 30, “Family Fun Day”

  • Interactive Dinosaur Show, 7 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Live animatronic raptors with a comedy act.
  • Car Demolition Derby. $10 general admission, $20 pit passes, kids 5 and under free.

July 31, “Fairs Care” & “Military Appreciation Day

  • Military Resource Fair, 11-4 p.m.
  • Handmade & Homegrown Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Shop local arts and food vendors. Free entertainment and kids activities.
  • 4-H Awards Ceremony, 5-6 p.m.

The fair is a joint venture of the Allen County Fairgrounds and Allen County 4-H. It’s a completely volunteer-run event and is the featured fundraiser for the Allen County Fairgrounds nonprofit organization, Love says.

General admission is free until 2 p.m. each weekday, with $5 admission on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and $10 admission Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Kids ages 5 and under are always free admission, and parking is no cost. On Sunday, veterans with ID enter free and the general public receives free admission with the donation of five non-perishable food items.

Carnival wristbands cost $25 each and are good on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. One ticket ride days are on Thursday and Sunday, with tickets costing $1.50 each or 16 for $20. Other days, tickets cost $1.25 each, or 22 for $25. Kid rides cost two tickets, family rides are three tickets, and spectacular rides are four tickets. Tickets can be used on any day.

Find a full schedule of events and pricing at TheAllenCountyFair.com. ❚