The Daily Standard
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WAPAKONETA- Fair season kicks off in the Grand Lake Region on Sunday with the start of the 172nd Auglaize County Fair which will be held from July 28-Aug. 3 at the county fairgrounds.
Known as the "The Family Fair," the weeklong celebration of the county's rural heritage will spice things up this year with a new country concert on Aug. 3 featuring emerging country singer Conner Smith, a 24-year-old Nashville native who released his full-length debut album, "Smokey Mountains," in January.
The concert will take the place of the tractor pull on the last night of the fair, assistant fair manager Jessica Johns had said.
"It is the first concert in a long time that we've had," Johns had said. "It's all about listening to the community. The community has been asking and begging for us to do something similar to Allen County and Mercer County, so this year we just decided to pull the plug and take the risk."
For the concert, fair organizers sought to tap an energetic, on-the-rise country performer who would appeal to all ages.
"When we came across Conner Smith and we saw him in concert and saw his videos, we really kind of felt like he was the one … someone great to come to our area and just someone great to kick off our very first concert with. He just felt right," she added.
The fair will start with a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon Sunday, and feature new midway entertainment all-week-long.
New entertainment for the midway includes the Banana Derby which are trained monkeys that ride on dogs' backs and race each other.
Another animal-based event coming to the midway is Goat Island, an open exhibit where goats walk around on bridges, jump over houses and cozy up to fairgoers to be petted.
"We got the Goat Island Zoo which is basically a group of goats," fair manager Ed Doenges said. "They're set up all day long and you can just kind of watch them out there playing in their different areas and grounds and (the) stuff that they do. Then we have the Banana Monkeys, which is monkeys racing on the back of dogs."
Also on the midway will be space adventure shows that are sure to educate, entertain and thrill audiences.
Throughout the week, fairgoers can enjoy free gospel tent performances and a packed entertainment tent schedule.
"It's (the gospel tent) going to be back to its original location, closer to the east gate of the fairgrounds near the animal barns," Johns had said. "We did move it back to our original location for the convenience of the older generations coming in. Plus it's more on asphalt so I think it's easier for those who are coming in with walkers and wheelchairs to be more comfortable for them."
Younger fairgoers will be highlighted on Tuesday for Kid's Day at the gospel tent.
The annual event will include face painting, arts and crafts, a t-shirt craft, one man band, surprise guests and more.
"They always kind of try to change it (Kid's Day) up a little bit here and there. "But yeah, that is a good event and it's always a crowd pleaser."
A variety of vendors, food options and midway games plus thrilling rides also await fairgoers.
Attendees can also enjoy the FFA and 4H projects that students work tirelessly all-summer-long.
The Auglaize County Fairgrounds are located at 1001 Fairview Drive in Wapakoneta. Fair gates open at 8 a.m.
