If you grew up going to your local county fair, you’ll know the immediate feelings of nostalgia that wash over you as you walk around the fairgrounds: the aromas of deep-fried food permeating the air, the rest of the fair-goers looking around in eager excitement, the slightly dubious fair rides, and of course, the prime peoplewatching. County fairs are an American pastime, and for good reason: they’re an embodiment of classic americana, and everyone’s likely been to at least one county fair throughout the course of their lives.
If you’re in the mood for a classic summer to-do, you’re in luck—the Athens County Fair is returning from August 2nd to the 10th of this year. Here’s what you can look forward to.
Musical Entertainment
What would a fair be without some form of live entertainment throughout the day? Like other local fairs, the Athens County Fair puts the spotlight on native artists and bands who call southeast Ohio their home. The fair will be offering up a quintessential soundtrack to your county fair experience on Tuesday, August 6th, starting at 7pm.
Renee Stewart Band and Heart Break Ridge—two bands local to the area—will take center stage as the fair starts to ramp up for the evening.
Demolition Derbies, Drag Racing, and Truck & Tractor Pulls
Always a crowd favorite, demolition derbies are a highlight of any county fair. There’s no denying the entertainment derived from watching multiple colorful cars bang into each other in a deliberate attempt to wreck the vehicle.
Beyond the standard fare of demolition derbies, you can also expect to see some drag racing competitions on full display, and there will also be truck and tractor pulls. The latter takes trucks and modified tractors and slaps a metal sled on the end of them that gets pulled around the entire course to see who ends up in first place with the most efficient vehicle. It’s simple entertainment, but fun to watch nonetheless, especially when you’re surrounded by others in the crowd who are cheering and having a good time.
Livestock Showings
Easily one of the crowd favorites of going to fairs, there’s an almost endless supply of farm animals being shown off at county fairs, and the Athens County Fair is no different. You’ll find tons of goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, poultry, and all sorts of animals to see—this is an especially fun activity for kids who might be getting to see some of these animals for the first time.
Fair Rides
A county fair just wouldn’t be complete without the iconic rides that comprise it: ferris wheels, bumper cars, scramblers, and carousels. They’re usually the main attractions at most fairs, and you’re guaranteed to get a little thrill out of them—they aren’t rollercoasters by any means, so don’t expect them to blow your mind, but they’re still light fun for an outing with friends or family.
If any of that sounds like a good time, add the Athens County Fair to your end-of-summer list and make a point to check it sometime during the week of August 2nd-10th while its in town.