Bedford County Fair returns to celebrate 150 years

BEDFORD, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Bedford County Fair is back in town and this year, the fair is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

The fair started Sunday with a rabbit show and judging contests. Throughout the week there will be tractor pulls, racing, bull riding and military appreciation.

“It feels great. Some of us have been here a long time. Maybe we feel like we’ve been here for about all of them. And that’s not the case. But we’re excited this year. We have some new things going on here and just looking forward, it’s a tradition here, just looking forward to the usual stuff,” said John Holbert, Vice President of the Bedford County Fair.

One of the new features this year is a mural for the 150th celebration. Holbert said it’s about 75% completed.

“We love county fairs. Always have. We’re from Washington PA, but we’ve shown. My grandfather right after World War Two, started showing at our county fair. My mom started the petting zoo there when I was two years old. And we’ve been part of Bedford, like I said, for I’m pretty sure it’s 35 years this year,” said Jeremy Ivcic, Owner of the Backyard Petting Zoo .

Marilyn Gash, a Bedford County resident for the past seven years, stopped by the fair to have some fun.

“I love going to the fair. I love seeing all the farm animals and all the hard work that the kids in the county have done with all their exhibits and their produce and their animals. My favorite is the horses,” Gash said.

Carving is an activity that visitors can also watch and enjoy.

“People come down here all this week and they’ll watch me transform all these logs into all kinds of animals. I mean, I’ll have fish, wolves, bears, you name it, I’ll carve it,” said Ben Rannels, Owner of Rannels Rustics Chainsaw Carving .

The fair goes until Saturday, July 27 and to celebrate the 150th anniversary, the fairgrounds will have fireworks on the last night, which they haven’t done since 2001.

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A full list of events for this year’s Great Bedford County Fair can be found online .

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