The Missouri State Fair is back Aug. 11-21 in Sedalia for yet another year of entertainment, food and some good 'ole friendly competition.
The list of attractions, live music, animal exhibits and shops seems to get longer every year. According to the fair's website, the staff is currently working to build show programs including the sale of champions, beef show program, swine and goat show programs.
Throughout the duration of the 11-day fair, organizers have split days into themes with corresponding events. For example, Aug. 14 is Military Appreciation Day. On this day, active military, veterans and delayed entry recruits with appropriate identification enter for free, and immediate family members for $1. On Missouri Electric Cooperatives Day, Aug. 19, the first 1,500 visitors will receive free LED light bulbs on this day.
Activities for adults and children alike are plentiful. From livestock shows to Missouri wine challenges to live entertainment or cooking demos, there is something for everyone. One of the many and typically larger attractions, the demolition derby is at 2 p.m. Aug. 21. Tickets for the event are $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 6-12. A schedule of the truck and tractor pulls and auto races can be found at www.mostatefair.com/attraction-type/truck-tractor-pulls-auto-races/.
If music is more your speed, there is plenty of that, too. Pick between nearly three dozen events -- or go to as many as you can. Some names to watch out for:
• Trace Adkins, with Lonestar, plays 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at the State Fair Grandstand. Pricing is $35-$45, and there will be a fireworks display after the show.
• Sam Hunt, with Sean Stemaly, plays 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at the State Fair Grandstand. Pricing is $45-$60 (with the highest being premium track tickets) and there will also be a fireworks display after the concert.
• Casting Crowns, with We Are Messengers, plays 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the State Fair Grandstand. Tickets are $25-$30.
• ZZ Top, on their "Raw Whisky" Tour with Goodbye June, play 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at the State Fair Grandstand. Tickets are $45-$60 with a fireworks display following the concert.
All paid concerts have four ways you can purchase your tickets. Attendees can mail or fax the ticket order form (you can print and fill out the form found online), order on Etix, call 1-800-514-ETIX and order by phone, or stop by the box office during operating hours. State fair and concert tickets are still available.
For those looking to participate in competitions, entries for the Missouri State Fair are now being accepted. Each competition has a specific set of instructions and requirements, so be sure to check individual competitions for rules. Most of the competitions also have online registration, which can be found at mosf.fairwire.com/. Popular competitions to watch for during the fair are the opening day parade, livestock shows, special contests such as State Fair Queen or the fiddling contest and, of course, truck and tractor pulls.
And no state fair is complete without food. There will be lemonade from Squeezy's, a variety of sweets and savory snacks, including funnel cakes and corn dogs, and food from Lefty's Country Skillet, to name a few. More vendors can be found on the Missouri State Fair website.
Gates for the fair will be open daily, from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance for adults (available through Aug. 1o) and $12 at the door for a single day adult. Seniors and children -- excluding those younger than 5, who get in free -- are $8 and $3 at the door, respectively. Advance tickets can still be purchased at the Box Office, Orscheln Farm & Home stores and Break Time convenience stores.
The carnival midway opens at noon on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends, weather permitting. A fair map, addresses and directions and alternate transportation -- if you're visiting from outside Sedalia, can be found at www.mostatefair.com/hours-maps/. The fair is located at the intersection of Highway 65 and 16th Street, 2503 W. 16th St., Sedalia.
Additional information, including signing up for updates, can all be found at www.mostatefair.com/.