The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Fair returns to mark its 199th edition
199th edition will feature sea lion shows, acrobatics, circus performances
The Great Geauga County Fair will once again return Sept. 2-6 to the Geauga County Fairgrounds, 14373 N. Cheshire St. in Burton Township, to offer attractions big and small for families to enjoy.
Due to the pandemic last year, fair officials only held a junior fair for 4-H participants to show their animals, but this year the full fair will return in a big way, said fair board member Keith Chapman.
This year marks the 199th anniversary of The Great Geauga County Fair, and Chapman said he was excited that the fair could be held again as officials and longtime fairgoers get ready for the bicentennial in 2022.
“We’re really gearing up for our 200th anniversary next year,” he said.
New this year, Chapman said, will be a sea lion splash show at Midway Stage 1 where families will be able to get up close and personal with live sea lions who will be performing for the audience. The act will have multiple performances over the span of the fair.
“People always love animal acts like this,” Chapman said.
Another highlight will be Circus Incredible, Chapman added, an act comprised of a duo who are second- and seventh-generation circus performers carrying on their families’ tradition of high-flying feats.
Along with the specialty performances there will be classic fair attractions such as drag racing, harness horse racing and a demolition derby — and of course, plenty of food vendors, fair games and livestock shows.
Chapman said that this year fairgoers are also able to purchase tickets in advance online to streamline the process of fair admission and accessing ticketed events.