by Frank Lee
operations@thenewsleaders.com
The Benton County Fair returns to Sauk Rapids starting noon Tuesday, Aug. 2, and will feature old favorites and new surprises to delight people of all ages before the fair ends Sunday, Aug. 7.
The 104th annual Benton County Fair will once again be held on the Benton County Fairgrounds for six consecutive days next month, which Donita Beehler described as “a little challenging.”
“You try to come up with new things people haven’t seen or experienced,” said Beehler, a secretary associated with the fair. “We have some board members that go to other fairs and check out what other fairs have that works for them who (then) try to bring some of that back to ours.”
“Tunnel to Towers – Never Forget 9/11” mobile exhibit will be a new attraction at next month’s fair in Sauk Rapids. The high-tech, 53-foot tractor-trailer unfolds into a 1,000-square-foot exhibit featuring documentary videos, artifacts and steel beams from the World Trade Center.
From 4-H swine judging in the show arena on Aug. 2 to magic shows on the Cottonwood Stage and bingo in the Lions building on the fairgrounds, there is an activity or demonstration that will appeal to those who attend the free fair that has attracted more than 110,000 people, she said.
“I know one thing people are a lot of time surprised by is that we are a free fair,” Beehler said. “A lot of other fairs charge to get in, so the only things that have a charge at our fair is if you want to park on the fairgrounds. Otherwise, you can find a free spot elsewhere.”
Grandstand events include: Motocross at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2; a demolition derby at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6; a truck pull at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4; a tractor pull on Friday, Aug. 5; and a monster truck show at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.
“The grandstand and the beer gardens generate the money to keep us going,” Beehler said of the pay-for-admission events at the grandstand and sale of alcohol on the fairgrounds.
The ever-popular pig races return to the Benton County Fair on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 3 and 4, with various times throughout those two days.
“I had one person walk into our offices and say, ‘I see the pig races are back! We’re so excited!’” Beehler said with a laugh. “So those must be exciting for people.”
The demolition derby is an annual favorite at the fair, even though it requires fair-goers to pay an admission fee to the grandstand event.
“Where else can you go crash a car or see one crashed?” Beehler said with a chuckle. “You definitely don’t want to see one crash elsewhere (on the streets).”
Beehler said this year’s fair may include a robotics state tournament in the fairgrounds’ Discovery Building on Saturday, which features educational material for those attending the fair.
“What we haven’t had for a while is the monster truck show on Sunday,” said Beehler, a Sauk Rapids resident. “And this will be the second year for our butterfly house and the second year for the glass blowers.”
Another favorite attraction at the Benton County Fair are the rides at the Midway along with games for prizes, all of which require an additional cost based on participation.
“We have never missed being at the fair,” Beehler said of her husband and herself. “My husband (has been) a board member for 20 years now, and I have been helping him and part of the fair either through him or with 4-H for that long.”
The children’s barnyard on the fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids will have plenty of activities for kids, Beehler said.
“We got the 4-H here at the beginning of the week until Thursday, so the barns are full of animals to see,” Beehler said. “And then we have (food and drink) vendors that are outside and the sports arena which houses all the merchants, so there is something for everybody.”
For more information about the 2016 Benton County Fair, visit www.bentonfairmn.com, send an e-mail to bentonfair@aol.com or call 320- 253-5649.
Livestock will be exhibited at the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids, which starts Tuesday, Aug. 2 and ends Sunday, Aug. 7.
The butterfly house returns for a second year to the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids, which starts Tuesday, Aug. 2 and ends Sunday, Aug. 7.
The 4-H Dairy Goat Judging will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 3 in the Show Arena of the Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids, just one of the many activities in this year’s county fair.
Hot-buttered corn on the cob, like the one enjoyed by this girl at last year’s Benton County Fair, will be a popular favorite at the 2016 Benton County Fair, which starts Tuesday, Aug. 2 and ends Sunday, Aug. 7.
The demolition derby, like this one in the Grandstand at last year’s Benton County Fair, is a popular attraction that fair-goers will have to pay admission to see on the fairgrounds.
The tractor pull will again take place at this year’s Benton County Fair at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids.
Ribbons are awarded to entries or categories such as dried fruit at last year’s Benton County Fair at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids.
The monster truck show, like the one at the 2012 Benton County Fair, returns to next month’s Benton County Fair after several years of absence as part of the line-up of pay-for-admission events at the Grandstand on the Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids.
