Fair time again

MANASSAS, Va. -- For the 61st consecutive year, the gates will swing open Friday and for the next nine days for the Prince William County Fair.

The fair begins at 3 p.m. and runs through Aug. 21.

“We have made many additions to the fair and offer something for everyone--from the small tots to the senior citizens,” said fair manager Keith Johnson.

The farm classic is conducted on the fairgrounds, south of Manassas on Va. 234, and is changing as the county becomes more urbanized.

It still offers livestock, home arts, business booths, entertainment, the midway and an opportunity for local nonprofit groups to raise funds.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been 61 years since a small band of county farmers started what is now the largest county fair in the state and the largest community event in Prince William County.
“The fair still relies on its original staples of agriculture and handcrafts, but we all see the county evolving around us and we are adapting accordingly,” said Johnson who has been part of the fair since childhood.

In the beginning, the animals were the main attraction and they were homegrown. Today, most of the livestock comes from neighboring counties, and the carnival is the big draw.

This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating Bounty in Our County” and this year’s fair is striving to bring together the many niches the Prince William has to offer.

“We want to offer an event that is good, clean family fun,” said Johnson.

First-time efforts at the fair include a farmer’s market, a quiz on the fair, a pizza, pie and ice cream eating contest, an antique tractor pull, canned food collection for the needy, a winery and back by popular demand “Swifty Swine Racing Pigs.”

Nightly attractions in the grandstand include truck and tractor pulls on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (antique tractor pull is at noon); demolition derbies on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, garden tractor pull on Tuesday, rodeo on Aug. 20 and Freestyle MotorCross Jump-off, the final night Aug. 21.

The fair still retains its regular features such as the baby contests, pet shows, home art exhibits, dairy cow showing and fitting, judging of rabbits, cattle, swine, sheep and goats, a chocolate challenge, commercial exhibits, children’s barn and Greatest Grandparent Essay Contest.

Daily attractions include Agricadabra Magic Show, Skyline Laser Tag, Hansens Acrobatic Sensations and pony rides.

On Sunday anyone making a canned donation to SERVE, Inc. will receive a coupon for a free hot dog.

Prince William’s only winery, The Winery at Lagrange in Haymarket, will be on site throughout the week offering samples and bottles to purchase.

There will be commercial exhibitors, including 86 indoors and 35 outside, offering everything from remodeling projects to cell phones to vacation packages.

The midway again is made up of Deggeller Attractions which has more than 30 rides, including two new ones this year--the Viper and the Windsurfer.

Johnson said he strives to keep the fair something the entire family can come and enjoy.

This year he is offering a pizza eating contest on Monday, a pie eating contest on Tuesday and an ice cream eating contest on Wednesday, with two divisions-children’s and adults. The action takes place in the Show Barn.

As usual, food is a big attraction at the fair and hot dogs, corndogs, funnel cakes, turkey drumsticks, pizza, ice cream and cool lemonade are enticing.

General admission prices are $8 adults age 7-59; $5 for seniors 60 and over and $5 for children ages 3-6.

Special “deal days” are half price day this Friday with admission to the fair and ride wristbands half price. Tuesday is $2 day with admission to the fair $2 and ride tickets $2. Daily wristband prices vary from $9 Friday to $18 weekdays and $20 on weekends.

Grandstand shows are $2 each for adults 18 and over.

Last year the fair drew 88,000 spectators and fair officials are hoping to top that figure this year.

The fair is owned and operated by the Prince William Veterans Farm Club, Inc.

The fair gates open at 3 p.m. during the week and noon on weekends. Parking is free.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.