New events galore at Jefferson County Fair

The Greater Jefferson County Fair has announced several new events for the 2021 fair, which runs all next week at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairfield.

One of the new events this year is known as “Banana Derby.” It involves monkeys riding dogs in a race. Attendees will have several chances to watch the event on the grass west of the carnival from Wednesday through Sunday of that week. For a full schedule of events, visit jeffersoncofair.com/schedule.

Fair board Vice President Steve Fritchen said board Treasurer Tammy Jones learned of the unusual event at the fair convention in Des Moines, where fair board members from across the state have the opportunity to spend a few days researching acts to bring to their own fair. That’s also where the Jefferson County fair board members learned of the Mobile Glass Studio, a glass-blowing demonstration where fairgoers can watch glass being made and have a chance to purchase glass items.

“That really caught my eye,” Fritchen said. “He’ll run for six hours a day and make anything you want.”

Another new thing this year is the tractor and car show that will last all day long from Wednesday through Sunday on the west side of the fairgrounds on the old baseball diamond. Residents can see those tractors and cars in the fair parade, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday beginning at the Fairfield High School and heading west on Broadway Avenue. The grand marshal for the parade is Terry Bonnett.

The fair will host a corn hole (bean bag) tournament at 5 p.m. the Saturday of fair week, also new this year.

A new grandstand event this year is Crash for Clunkers on Sunday night, which replaces the demolition derby. Fritchen described Crash for Clunkers as racing on a dirt track with obstacles. In 2020, the fair board held a dirt drag race, and Fritchen said the turnout was much bigger than expected, so that event was brought back for 2021 and will be on Thursday night.

Fritchen said the fair board has tried to make the 2021 fair as normal as possible, and he expects to have a normal number of vendors just like the fair had before the pandemic.