From Farm to Fair

Baldwin County Fair set to begin Tuesday

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama – “From Farm to Fair” the Baldwin County Fair will celebrate its 69th year while also celebrating the state’s bicentennial when festivities kick off Tuesday, Sept 18 at the Baldwin County Fairgrounds, 19477 Fairground Road, behind Robertsdale High School.

Established in 1948, the Baldwin County Fair is the longest running county fair in the state. The fair draws thousands of residents from throughout Baldwin County and the surrounding area each year.

This year’s fair kicks off at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17 with an FFA Agriculture Education Day with education workshops held throughout the day for Baldwin County agriculture students.

Judging for the exhibits both inside the Coliseum and outside at the entrance to the arena also begins on Tuesday.

Each year, the fair features more than 1,000 competitive exhibits, including antiques, art, crafts and hobbies, environmental art, scrapbooking, sewing, food preparation and preservation, horticulture and agronomy, photography and livestock exhibits, along with environmental exhibits, featuring schools and civic organizations.

The midway, run again this year by Arnold Amusement, opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition to numerous exhibits inside the coliseum, there will also be Baldwin County museum exhibit, as well as livestock exhibits, a duck pond and baby chick exhibit, petting zoo, the Teeny Weeny Circus and South Alabama Antique Tractor & Engine Club exhibit outside.

An FCCLA Sweet Potato Contest begins at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and the annual Bo Campbell Rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the arena. This year’s Rodeo will feature rodeo clown T.J. Williams and there will be a calf scramble each day at 8:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, for $15 admission, all rides and entertainment are offered free of charge for all over 36 inches tall. Discounts are also available on Thursday, for all seniors, military personnel and veterans. General admission on Friday and Saturday is $8 for adults. Admission is free every day for children under 12.

Friday night is midnight madness with $20 arm bands for unlimited midway rides from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Rides from 5 to 10 p.m. are with tickets only. Saturday features $15 arm bands for unlimited rides from 1 to 5 p.m. and rides with tickets only from 5 p.m. to closing at 1 a.m.

Youth livestock shows begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in the arena, featuring poultry, goats and livestock and a pee wee goat show for children under 6.

Information about these and other items of interest are provided in the Baldwin County Fair special section, inserted in the Sept. 6 edition of the Baldwin Times are also available at fair offices and inside the Coliseum on fair days.

For more information call the fair office at 251-947-3247, call 251-747-2082 or visit the fair website, baldcofair.com.