Whitley County Fair returning Thursday through Saturday at fairgrounds

The Whitley County Fair will return to Williamsburg after being canceled in 2020. This year, the fair will feature its first ever demolition derby on Thursday evening.

“It is the first year that we have ever had one that anybody on the fair board can remember,” said Fair Board member Garrett Croley. “It is something new that we wanted to try. They are very popular at other fairs and we have had some interest from the community, so we thought we would give it a try this year.”

There is no pre-registration for the event, but Croley said there have been several individuals already verbally commit to participating in the event.

Each of the events for the fair will take place at the fair grounds at Savoy-Clear Creek Road in Williamsburg.

There will be no pre-registration for any event, but gates will open prior to the events to allow for registration.

“It seems like there is a lot more interest this year in the community than there has been in the past,” said Croley. “We are just glad to have something for the community to do. The fair board members, all of us work full-time jobs. We are volunteers. There is no payroll or anything. We just do it so we, the community, to have something to participate in. We all enjoy doing it.”

Croley said there will not be a gate fee on Saturday morning for the pedal tractor race, tractor show, or craft bazaar. There will also be a cornhole tournament which costs $20 per team to enter.

“I always enjoy that little tractor race and having the kids out to do that. It is a lot of fun, and exciting for the kids to come out and participate,” said Croley.

The fair provides pedal tractors for the race, but for other competitions participants must provide vehicles for the demolition derby, mud bog, and horses (including stick horses) for the horse show.

Schedule of events:

Thursday, July 15

Demolition Derby – Gates will open at 5 p.m. for registration, and the derby will begin at 7 p.m. There is a $20 entry fee for the derby. For more information contact Randy Meadors at (606) 524-6014, Roger Rowe at (606) 215-6395, or Garrett Croley at (606) 304-7330.

Friday, July 16

Horse Show – Gates will open at 5 p.m. for registration, and the show will begin at 7. Categories include stick horse for riders 12 and under (stick horse not provided), lead line, open halter, youth and beginner pleasure, egg and spoon, youth racking, pleasure walking, ladies pleasure, style racking, mule/donkey pleasure, Whitley County only pleasure, chin apple, pole bending, costume class, pony pleasure 14.2HH and under, youth walking, men pleasure, generation gap, speed pacing, speed racking, championship walking and championship racking.

Prices for entry depend on the competition. Stick horse and lead line are both free to enter, but championship walking and championship racking cost $15 per entry. The other classes cost $10 per entry.

During intermission there will be an egg toss competition. It is $5 per team to enter. The winning team will receive $20. For more information about the horse show, visit Whitley County Fair on Facebook.

Saturday, July 17

Cornhole tournament – Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the tournament begins at 10 a.m. The entry fee is $20 per team.

There will be free events including the kids pedal tractor race, tractor show and crafts bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No gate will be charged for these events, but there is a $30 rental fee for a 10 by 10-foot space for vendors at the craft bazaar.

The mud bog will begin at 7 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m. The event will award $2,000+ in prize money. The gate fee is $10 per person. Entry fees are: ATV class is $5 per entry; side-by-side class is $10 per entry; street class is $20 per entry; 34” and under class is $20 per entry; 35’-38; class is $30 per entry; and the outlaw class is $50 per entry.

There will also be a kids mud run foot race. It will be separated into two categories 11 & under and 12-15. The first boy and girl in each of the two categories will receive $50.

There will be a ladies mud run foot race for ladies age 16 and up. The winner will receive $100.

For more information about the mud bog events or rules visit Whitley County Fair on Facebook or call Garrett Croley at (606) 304-7330 or Roger Rowe at (606) 215-6395.