Step right up to upcoming Northwest Indiana county fairs
It’s easy to dismiss the county fair as antiquated or uncool, but don’t sleep on the county fair. It’s quintessentially American and there’s a lot of fun that can be had for the price of admission.
According to the International Association of Fairs and Expos, the first county fair in America was held in 1811 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as basically an animal contest. Prize money was given for the best livestock.
The La Porte County Fair touts itself as Indiana’s oldest county fair, celebrating 177 years in 2023.
Modern fairs still have those agricultural roots, pardon the pun. Competitions have been added in everything from vegetable growing to rabbits to pies. County fairs are now several days long and feature bands, monster trucks, lemon shake-ups, elephant ears, carnival rides, petting zoos, pony rides, pig races and so much random midway entertainment. Looking past all of the trappings is usually an educational component that seeks to help consumers understand the importance of farming and how their food gets to their tables.
Here’s a look at when and where you can find your county’s fair.
La Porte County Fair through July 15
The La Porte County Fair opened July 8 and runs to July 15 at the fairgrounds in La Porte. Tickets are $6-$9; kids 9 and under free. At 2581 W. State Road 2. 219-362-2647; lpfair.com.
La Porte County Fair hours are 8 a.m.11 p.m. daily. A demolition derby is at 7 p.m. July 14 and tickets are $13-$16. Bigfoot, Bugzilla, Funky Monkey and Hoosier Daddy are a few of the monster trucks you’ll see at Full Throttle Monster Trucks show at 7 p.m. July 15. Tickets are $30.
The fair’s Pioneerland, which opened in 1995 as part of the 150th anniversary, includes a log cabin, blacksmith shop, one-room school house, post office, general store, wash house and more. It will be open from 12-9 p.m. daily during the fair.
Silly Safaris will be in Pioneerland at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. through July 15.
Bands are in the free entertainment tent at 5 p.m. There are 4-H exhibits and judging throughout the fair.
Porter County Fair July 20-29
This year’s Porter County Fair offers a sold-out show by rapper-turned-country music singer Jelly Roll, a performance by country music icons the Oak Ridge Boys, midget wrestling and mud drags.
The Porter County Fair is from July 20-29 at the fairgrounds in Valparaiso. Tickets are $10; kids under 10 free. Free entry before 12 p.m. daily. Free parking, shuttles available. Grandstand entertainment costs extra. At 217 E. Division Road. 219-462-0321; portercountyfair.com.
The fair opens at 8 a.m. daily and closes at 11 p.m. daily and midnight on the weekend. The carnival opens at 1 p.m. and the commercial expo building is open from 12-9 p.m. daily.
All grandstand concerts take place at 7:30 p.m. and include John Pardi July 20, Jelly Roll July 21, Zach Williams July 22, and the Oak Ridge Boys at 5 p.m. July 23. Other grandstand events are at 7 p.m. and include ABR Rodeo and Bull Riding July 24, Midget Warriors Wrestling July 25, Super Show Promotions Truck and Tractor Pull July 26, Auto Cross Mud Drags July 27, Night of Destruction Demolition July 28, and Sandberg’s Towing School Bus Figure 8 Derby at 5 p.m. July 29.
Fairgoers can enjoy free entertainment each day, including Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Wild World of Animals, Ready Go Dog Show, Aquatic Acrobat Show and Scott’s World of Magic. The Park Place Pavilion will have live music daily and 4-H exhibits and contests will run throughout the fair.
Lake County Fair Aug. 4-13
The 171st Lake County Fair is Aug. 4-13 at the fairgrounds in Crown Point.
Tickets are $8 cash only; children 10 and under are free. Parking is free. Admission is free before 3 p.m. Aug. 7-10. At 889 S. Court St. 219-663-3617; lake-county-fair.com.
Fair hours are 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. There is free parking and shuttle bus service from Crown Point High School, 1500 S. Main St.
Grandstand entertainment kicks off with the All-Star Monster Truck Show featuring Wild Side, Terminal Velocity, Colossus, Too Reckless and Devastator at 7 p.m. Aug. 4-5 and 3 p.m. Aug. 6 with a $15 ticket price. There will be a driver meet-and-greet before each show.
The Three Bar J Rodeo is at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 featuring eight rodeo events and a meet-and-greet before the show, also for $15. Micro Wrestling is 7-9 p.m. Aug. 8 with a post-show wrestler meetand-greet for $15. The South Country Mud Runners mud drags are at 7 p.m. Aug. 9-11; tickets are $12. The International Demolition Derby closes the fair’s grandstand entertainment at 5 p.m. Aug. 12-13 with full-size cars, vans, trucks and riding lawn mowers; admission is $15.
Other activities include the “Let’s Learn About Agriculture” show presented by the Farm Bureau in the Flower Show building, a fishing pond, daily children’s activities, Show-Me Safari petting zoo, racing pigs, Silly Safaris live animal show, Farmer Bob, the World’s Funnest Photo Booth and live music daily on the Heritage Stage.
Also look for a bean spitting contest at 11 a.m. Aug. 5, Hot Wheels racing for all ages at noon and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 6 and an apple peeling contest for those 21-and-older at 11 a.m. Aug. 7.
On Aug. 10, you’ll find a paper airplane contest at 1:30 p.m. and a pie eating contest at 7 p.m. There’s an ice cream eating contest at 3 p.m. and a goat milking contest at 4 p.m. Aug. 11. There’s a frog jumping contest at 11 a.m. Aug. 12. Hot Wheels Racing is at noon and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 13.
The carnival will run throughout the fair; see the website for times, costs and wristband specials.