Fair readied for weekend

IRONWOOD - The final preparations are being made for the 95th annual Gogebic County Fair, set to run Thursday through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Ironwood.

Fair Board President Jim Gribble said the 2016 edition will include many of the old favorites like carnival rides, grandstand shows and agricultural aspects, but there are plenty of new attractions this year, too.

While the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners and fair board have been running the fair since 1921, the fair has roots back as far as 1897, when there were races at the former Driving Park - the same site as today's fairgrounds on U.S. 2 in Ironwood. Until 1921, the annual fair was organized by a group of Gogebic Range businessmen.

Harness racing came to the fair in 1921 as the county board started managing operations alongside the Gogebic County Fair and Agriculture Association.

Gribble said the carnival will be bigger and better with Spectrum Entertainment featuring some new rides.

"With our line-up this year, there is something for everybody," said Spectrum owner Dan Barbacovi.

The grandstand shows will feature Juice Newton on Friday at 7 p.m. and Fran Cosmo, the former lead singer of Boston, on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. In 2010, Cosmo was scheduled to perform at the fair, but the show was canceled because of rain.

Fair-goers can watch the Dirt Dash on Sunday, taking the place of the Mud Runners and Tuff Trucks show. Fair board member Tom Auvinen said the event is a fan favorite at the Bayfield County Fair in Iron River, Wis.

With front-wheel drive cars circling the dirt track, Auvinen said "this promises to be an exciting and entertaining show."

The Youth Challenge returns this year on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Area youth will compete in a variety of events. Some of the popular events in the past included a blindfolded wheelbarrow race, hay bale rolling and a corn cob toss.

Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps will perform Thursday evening at 7.

Harness racing is set for Friday and Saturday afternoons around the half-mile track. Races starts on Friday at 1 p.m. and on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

This year also marks the 42nd annual 4-H Market Animal Auction, on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Throughout the year, 24 youth have learned about steers, hogs, lambs, turkeys and chickens, and will sell them at the auction. The club expects to clear the historical $1 million total sales mark this year.

The annual pedal tractor pull has been moved to Sunday at noon, Gribble said. He said kids of all ages can compete for bragging rights on the new concrete track. Gribble said adults can also partake in the action.

"Come on out and help support the county fair run another 95 years," Gribble said.

Schedule of events:

Thursday

-3 p.m., Spectrum Entertainment opens midway.

-4:30 p.m., Youth Challenge at the grandstand

-4:45 p.m., Flag raising ceremony near the Expo Building

-7 p.m., Marty's Goldenaires Show at grandstand.

Friday

-Noon, Midway opens

-Noon, Youth Class Horse Show in horse arena

-1 p.m., Harness racing

-7 p.m., Juice Newton at the grandstand

Saturday

-9 a.m., Open Horse Show

-Noon, Midway opens

-12:30 p.m., Harness racing

-3 p.m., Harness drivers meet and greet

-5:30 p.m., 4-H livestock auction.

-7:30 p.m., Fran Cosmo in the grandstand

Sunday

-9 a.m., Action games in horse arena

-TBA, Pony pulling

-Noon-4 p.m., annual antique tractor show

-Noon, Midway opens

-Noon, Pedal tractor pull

-2 p.m., Sixth annual pie auction on the small stage

-2:30 p.m., 4-H awards show at grandstand

-2:30 p.m., Vintage tractor parade