The 70th Patrick County Agricultural Fair is set to be held from Tuesday, September 10 through Saturday, September 14 at Rotary Field in Stuart.
Sonny Swails, a member of the Rotary Club of Stuart and an organizer, said the event will be fun, with games for everyone. “I think it’s 16 rides that are going to be there. That’s what we normally get.”
In addition to animals, booths, and exhibits, music will be performed in the Hooker Building each night, from 6 – 9 p.m., and possibly 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The annual Demolition Derby will be held Saturday, September 7, a week before the fair, Swails said, and explained “the demolition derby has historically been on Saturday night, and Saturday night’s traffic jams are horrendous. We’ve had traffic backed up on 58 all the way to the stoplight at Walmart.”
As a result, organizers opted to hold the derby a week early.
“We’re just hoping that we’ll have our normal turnout for the derby, but at the same time we hope it’s going to relieve some of the traffic on the Saturday night of the fair, so it won’t be such a bottleneck with people trying to get into the fairgrounds. We’ll see how it goes; it may work, and it may not. If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to having it Saturday night at the fair, but I hope that it’s going to make a difference,” he said.
Swails said a Saturday afternoon matinee is planned for small children. Wristbands are reduced in price from 3-6 p.m., when they return to the regular price. He advised parents of small children to look at the Cole rides website to determine height restrictions.
“If you come in there with a kid that happens to be 10 years old, but he’s five feet tall, then he’s going to be limited on the rides he can get on. The insurance company sets the guidelines as for who size wise can get on these various rides,” Swails said, adding parents “need to make sure before they purchase that wristband that there are adequate rides for them to justify” the wristband cost.
Ruritan Paula Drady said the American Red Cross will also be set up in the Hooker Building on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept blood donations – marking a first at the fair. Those wishing to make an advance appointment may visit www.redcrossblood.org/give.
“Give blood, save a life, and receive a free ticket to be used on your choice of nights. It’s a win-win, so don’t miss Blood Donor Day at the fair,” Drady said.
Sponsors for the event include Patrick County, Rotary Club of Stuart, Clark Gas & Oil Co., ValleyStar Credit Union, and AutosByNelson.com.
General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for those under six.
Student night is Tuesday, September 10, and senior citizens, veterans, and current military members can enter for free on September 12, Swails said.
Wristbands can be purchased in advance at www.colerides.com.
For more information, visit www.patrickcountyfair.com, or Facebook.com/PatrickCountyFair-StaurtVARotaryClub.
