Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Washington County Fair Opens Aug. 29
LARGEST COUNTY FAIR IS 160 YEARS OLD
Billed as the largest county fair in Arkansas, the 160th annual Washington County Fair arrives next week, Aug. 29 through Sept. 2.
The front gate opens to the public at 10 a.m. each weekday and 9 a.m. on Saturday. The carnival Midway opens at 5 p.m. each day, except for noon on Saturday.
Gate admission is $5 for ages 6 and older. Armbands for the Midway rides can be purchased daily for $25 per person.
Special admission prices are available on different nights.
Tuesday, Aug. 29, is Hugg & Hall Family Night and admission is $2 at the gate and $2 per ride. Livestock judging of poultry, dairy cattle and breeding sheep will be going on during the day.
Wednesday, Aug. 30, is livestock show/school day and students are admitted free through 3 p.m. Judging during the day includes dairy goat, meat goat, beef showmanship, commercial heifers, breeding beef and market steer beef.
Thursday, Aug. 31, is Senior Citizens Day and those 62 years or older are admitted free through 5 p.m. University of Arkansas students receive free admission with a college ID from 5 p.m. to close on Thursday night.
Special prices for Midway armbands are $20 (with a Pepsi product can) for Midnight Madness from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, and for Sizzling Saturday (with a Pepsi product can) from 10 p.m. to close on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Exhibits of many various entries submitted for competition will be available to see in Thompson Hall and the Horticulture Hall each day. These include clothing, household arts and needle arts, food preservation, fine arts and photography.
The popular Hambone Express Pig Races will be held every hour beginning at 5 p.m. each day. A free petting zoo for children is open 5 p.m. to closing each day.
On the last day, Sept. 2, many featured events are scheduled. A youth dog show will be held at 9 a.m. in the livestock arena, a horseshoe pitching contest begins at 9 a.m. in the rodeo arena, a Dutch Oven CookOff goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the front gate, and an adult sheep showmanship will be at 11 a.m. in the livestock arena.
In the afternoon, events include Farmhand Olympics at 2 p.m. in the livestock arena, youth talent contest at 6 p.m. in the livestock arena and Mutton Bustin’ in the riding arena at 6:30 p.m.
The evening activities conclude with L.J. Jenkins Bull Riding Tour at 7:30 p.m. in the riding arena.
The Washington County Fair is located on the county fairgrounds on McConnell Road in Fayetteville. Volunteers will be present to assist with parking. Washington County Fair Association does not charge for parking, nor does it encourage visitors to use paid parking lots set up by other organizations not associated with the fair.