Elida performs during the 2023 Kewpee Showcase of Bands at the Allen County Fair.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — Many free, low-cost and traditional events will take place at The Visit Greater Lima Grandstand at the Allen County Fair this year.
“We try to stick to that traditional lineup because you really hit a lot of different demographics within those different events,” said Troy Elwer, promotions and operations manager for the Allen County Fairgrounds. “Those events allow us to really highlight our talented youth we have right here in Allen County, being the band show and the cheer competition. The livestock scramble is a good event to reward our youth in Allen County and to have a little bit of fun.
“The demo derby and truck pulls have really been one of our heaviest attended events, aside from the concert the last several years,” Elwer added. “When you think of a fair festival, you think of demo derby or truck pull, so that’s really what our demographic is and we’ve had a really good support system from that demographic the last several years.”
At 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, the Great Lakes Team Handball Association will hold a free admission demonstration. According to the Olympics website, “Handball is an indoor sport characterized by its high speed, where teams strive to score points by throwing a ball into a goal resembling those used in football, complete with posts and a crossbar.” Handball has been in the Olympics since 1972.
At 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, a free admission baton and flag corp competition will occur. Last year, the Allen County Fair posted on its Facebook page, “Area squads can compete in categories of majorette squad, feature twirler, rifles, flag corps, feature flags, dance team and dance twirl team. The judges determine scores based on specific technique, maneuvering, and overall effect by examining the routine’s difficulty, variety, speed, originality and uniformity of action.”
Following the baton and flag corp competition, at 7 p.m. Sunday will be the Kewpee Showcase of Bands, featuring area high school bands. Admission will be $5 for ages 7 and up and free for ages 6 and under.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, antique tractors will be displayed and pulled with free admission.
Harness racing with free admission will happen at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19 and Tuesday, Aug. 20, with the Dunlap-Renner Memorial Pace on Monday and the Ohio Ladies Pace and the Allen County Supertrot on Tuesday.
A cheerleading competition will occur at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21. Admission will be $5 for ages 7 and up and free for ages 6 and under. In 2022, the Allen County Fair’s Facebook page posted Allen County and other area cheerleading squads competed for a first-place trophy. There were also divisions for junior high, high school and youth midget football.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, a livestock scramble will take place, with free admission. Kids will wrangle animals such as calves, sheep and chickens.
The demolition derby featuring a kids power wheels derby will be 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. Admission is $8 for ages 7 and over and free for ages 6 and under. An infield pass for all ages is $15.
To finish out the events at the grandstand, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, the Hardin County Pullers will hold a truck and tractor pull. Admission will be $5 for ages 7 and up and free for ages 6 and under. An infield pass for all ages is $10.
