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Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch will be among the anticipated 50,000 visitors to the Marion County Fair this year.
“This year’s theme is Christmas in July. We are doing as much as we can to put a little Christmas touch in everything,” said Latisha Lewis of Marion, the fair manager.
Mary Ellen Dune is cutting the ribbon to open the fair at noon Monday. The 97-year-old is being honored for planting flowers to beautify the fairgrounds for 15 years. Seniors ages 55 and older can get in free Monday before noon.
Fireworks at the fair on the Fourth of July
The demolition derby, harness racing and the tractor pulls will return. New attractions include the Micro Wrestling Federation and a golf cart parade before the fireworks Thursday, July 4.
“There’s a lot of new things. If there’s something happening at the grandstand, there’s something happening at Veterans Memorial Coliseum,” Lewis said.
On Wednesday, children ages 12 and under get in free before noon. More than 1,000 youth are involved in the fair.
Meleah Tway, a senior at Harding, and her sister, Avelyn, an eighth grader, are excited to enter market chickens this year.
“4-H is the perfect opportunity to branch out and do things you wouldn’t normally do. I’ve gotten so many amazing experiences and memories from 4-H and the fair,” Avelyn said. “I’ve enjoyed projects like designing rooms and clothing, which allowed me to do more with my creativity. Raising market chickens has really made me step out of my comfort zone.”
Over the years, Meleah has competed events including cake decorating, scrapbooking, coin collecting, sewing, dress design, digital media and rabbit breeding.
Marion County Fair offers opportunities to learn
Many residents work to make the fair a success.
“From learning and creating to being judged on projects, I’ve learned time management, public speaking and responsibility,” Meleah said. “As a member of the Junior Fair Board for Marion County, I have the incredible opportunity to be a leader at the fair and to aid other 4-H members with their projects, shows and judging. I have learned so much since my first fair. It has become a place I truly love.”
“Growing up through 4-H and FFA, it is always a privilege to give back to a program that gave so much to me!” said Andrea Bayles, a member of the Marion County Livestock Committee.
Bayles encourages visitors to support fair exhibitors.
Visitors can bid on locally-made and judged pies at 3 p.m. Friday. Afterward, exhibitors can sell an item of their choice, such as quilts, photos or furniture.
“This is for kids who aren’t showing livestock. We had a pretty good turnout last year,” Lewis said. “We always would like extra help for benefitting those kids and help them raise a little money.”
The livestock auction begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with the sale of champions.
Patriotic ceremony for veterans set for Friday
“Purchasing in any of these auctions is an outstanding way to support the youth of Marion County as well as promote your business,” Bayles said.
Veterans with an I.D. as well as one guest can get free admission Friday until noon. A free breakfast for veterans starts at 9 a.m. A patriotic ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Honor Flight representatives are attending to recruit veterans who have yet to visit Washington, D.C.
Live bands include 23 Southbound, Left of Center and Sneaky Pete. On Friday, the Acts of Kindness Group is bringing in artists and ministers from the Fan the Flames Christian group.
Faithful fairgoers look forward to stopping by their favorite spots.
Mandi Himler of Marion can’t wait to stop by the Marion Lamb Association booth.
Paula Fultz loves “seeing the animals and the fair food.”
“All around, it’s fun from one end to the other!” Lewis proclaimed.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: MarionMade!: Fair brings Christmas in July - meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Grinch, too
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