St. Louis County Fair season has begun

CHISHOLM—With sunny skies overhead and temperatures in the 80s, gates opened for the 139th St. Louis County Fair on Wednesday in Chisholm.

Glass blowing demonstrations by SoHot Glass, of Addison, Texas took place in a booth adjacent to the Children’s Barn on Wednesday. The demonstration is one of many family-friendly events included with admission to the fair this season.

Owners Max Frayman and Kayla Socha have been blowing glass for almost 16 years, and for the last five have been traveling to different fairs.

Socha said this year marks their first time at the St. Louis County Fair.

While setting up a display of the various blown glass items they make, Socha said the deer heads they make are probably the most difficult.

“The antlers are difficult to work with and when they’re hot there’s a lot that can go wrong,” she added.

Frayman proceeded to create a small pumpkin, seamlessly melting the colored glass in a 2,100 degree, propane powered furnace, then carefully shaping the pumpkin’s base. Once the base was complete, he proceeded to heat glass to create the stem, which he connected to the base, then stretched and curled while the glass was still hot.

This year’s fair has live music throughout the schedule, and there’s also all the fair favorites—exhibit buildings including 4-H and animals, tractors and equipment on display, a variety food vendors, a midway with rides for all ages, and more.

If you plan on visiting the fair, you might get a chance to see baby piglets in the swine barn. A sow named Pineapple, owned by Madeline Grass of Iron is anticipated to give birth before the fair is over.

The fair runs through Sunday with gates open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4.

More information can be found on the fair website at stlofair.org.