The Pierce County Fair blends the best of the 4th of July with an old-time county fair, offering everything from kids’ activities to live music to fireworks. The two-day fair is set for July 3 and 4 at the Pierce County Fairgrounds in Rugby.
Revived after a nine-year absence, the 2008 Pierce County Fair drew modest, but enthusiastic, crowds. Fair board president Greg Berginski thinks people will find the 2009 fair even more enjoyable and affordable. “We’re offering more free attractions and general admission is just $1 per person, so it’s going to be a great place for families to spend part of their holiday weekend,” Berginski says.
The fair opens with a pancake breakfast July 3 in the grandstand shelter. Gooseneck Implement employees will serve from 7 to 10 a.m. Freewill donations for the flapjacks will go toward construction of a new multipurpose building at the fairgrounds. Rugby’s annual July 4th parade—including a patriotic bike parade for kids—will head down Main Street toward the fairgrounds at 1 p.m.
Fun ’n’ games
This year’s “midway” offers five interactive Fun-on-the-Run attractions from 2 to 9 p.m. daily, including an Ironman Obstacle Course, Tropical Splashdown waterslide and the 25-foot Climb Dakota rock-climbing wall. Free activities include: Daryl’s Racing Pigs, Old McHumble’s Farm petting zoo, and Freddie Prez Attractions’ Hanna Montana Lip Sync contest, SpongeBob Squarepants Game Show, and karaoke and Guitar Hero contests.
Kids, teens and grownups can all participate in the John Deere Pedal Tractor Pull at 1 p.m. July 3. Other homegrown competitions include pie-baking, watermelon-eating and pie-eating. The fair’s first-ever cake-decorating contest starts at 11 a.m. July 3. Kids ages 6 to 14 should bring their own frosted cakes. The fair will provide colored icing and decorations; the best cake decorators will win cash prizes; and all the cakes will be auctioned off to the highest bidders
In the grandstand
The grandstand opens at noon July 3 with mud racing, which will continue until 7 p.m. An all-ages dance featuring music by Minot-based cover band Tin Star will follow from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Pierce County’s second annual Hidden Talent Show is slated for 6 p.m. July 4, followed by an all-ages show featuring Bob & the Beachcombers. The Minnesota-based Beachcombers play 60’s surfing songs, classic 50’s rock ’n’ roll, and hits of the 70s and the 80s. The band creates a beach-party atmosphere with beach balls and Hawaiian leis; audience sing-alongs; and hula hoop, air guitar, limbo and twist contests. They’ll break for fireworks at dusk; dance runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Rugby Eagles Beer Garden will be open throughout the mud run and during the dances July 3 and 4. Fair vendors will have food available for purchase.
Livestock displays, shows
It’s been a decade since Pierce County 4-Hers exhibited livestock at the fairgrounds, but this year they’re back. “The fair and 4-H go hand in hand, so we're thrilled to have 4-H club members participating again,” Berginski says.
The 4-H livestock show will begin at 9 a.m. July 3 and rabbit and poultry judging will start around 10:30 a.m. Pierce County extension agent Karlyle Erickson says 4-H’ers are being encouraged to leave livestock at the fairgrounds throughout the fair.
Non-livestock 4-H exhibits—including everything from baked goods to welding projects—will be open for public viewing from 1 to 6 p.m. July 2 in Rugby Memorial Auditorium. A 4-H horseshow is tentatively planned for late afternoon July 2 at the fairgrounds.
Tickets
Tickets for grandstand events and Fun-on-the-Run attractions will be available at the door. General fair admission is $1 per person per day. A detailed fair schedule is available at the Geographical Center Chamber of Commerce web site at www.rugbynorthdakota.com/.