Live on the Square moves to county fairgrounds; Northey to visit Jefferson County Fair Wednesday; more

Live on the Square moves to county fairgrounds

Live on the Square summer concert series teams up with the Greater Jefferson County Fair to present the country band Lockren at 8 p.m. Saturday on the fairgrounds.

Now in its seventh year, Lockren has made a name for itself as a band that keeps fans entertained throughout the night. Based in eastern Iowa, they have formed a huge following of loyal fans that love the country music scene.

Lockren has opened for Nashville recording artists, including Craig Morgan, Gary Allen, Jason Michael Carroll, Randy Houser, Rodney Atkins and Tracy Byrd. The band has a set list that consists of songs currently on the top 40 charts, as well as classics from the likes of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Reba and Patsy Cline.

With comments like ?Lockren is as good as it gets,? and ?The band was fabulous, and the crowd loved them,? it?s no secret why Live on the Square and the Jefferson County fair board have brought Lockren back for another year.

Greater Jefferson County Fair gate admission is free. The free concert will be on the show arena stage.

Northey to visit Jefferson County Fair Wednesday

DES MOINES ? Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will be visiting Appanoose, Jefferson and Henry counties Wednesday as part of his efforts to visit each of Iowa?s 99 counties again in 2012.

Plans are for Northey to be at the Greater Jefferson County Fair at 2:30 p.m.

The meetings give Northey an opportunity to hear from Iowans and discuss agriculture and the issues facing farmers and consumers in the state.

In addition to visiting the Jefferson County Fair, Northey will participate in the WHO Radio Great Iowa Tractor Ride in Centerville and will tour Grasshorse Technologies in Winfield.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his second term as secretary of agriculture. His priorities as secretary of agriculture are promoting the use of science and new technologies to better care for air, soil and water, and reaching out to tell the story of Iowa agriculture.

Municipal band concerts begin this evening

Fairfield Municipal Band concerts, a long-time summer tradition, will begin today in the Central Park bandstand.

Concerts are planned from 8-9 p.m. each Tuesday, with the final concert of the season set for July 31.

A program for each concert is scheduled to be published in The Ledger each Monday prior to the Tuesday concert. The program for tonight?s concert is on page 7 of today?s Ledger.

Everyone is invited to bring lawnchairs or blankets to spread out and enjoy the free concert.

Clubs and organizations often sell refreshments around the square during the concerts. Immanuel Lutheran Ladies? Circle plans to sell rootbeer floats this evening.

Free admission kicks off state fair

DES MOINES ? On opening day, Aug. 9, the Iowa State Fair will jump-start the 11-day celebration with free admission from 6-9 a.m. and Healthiest State Initiative activities.

The 2012 fair runs Aug. 9-19.

Fairgoers can take advantage of free admission with a coupon from the Iowa State Fair special section of the Aug. 5 Des Moines Sunday Register and in the full-page Hy-Vee ad in the Aug. 8 Des Moines Register; one coupon per person, parking not included.

Gate admission also is half-price after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursdays at all gates.

Beginning at 6 a.m., join organizers on the Grand Concourse for a morning of wellness sponsored by The Healthiest State Initiative. Opening ceremonies will be at 8 a.m., followed by Iowa?s largest Zumba class.

Fair fun continues all day with contests, food, games and entertainment including performances by The Nadas, JJ Grey and Mofro, Bob Wootton and Steve Holy. Christian music stars TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North and Jamie Grace will perform on the Grandstand stage at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Grandstand show are $32 (plus convenience charges) and are available now through Ticketmaster outlets and the Iowa State Fair Box Office.

A complete listing of opening day activities will be available at iowastatefair.org in July.