Carnival rides, fair food and musicians coming into town signal that carnival season has finally reached Jefferson City.
The 72nd Annual Cole County Fair will begin Monday and end July 30 at the Jefferson City Jaycees Fairgrounds, 1445 Fairgrounds Road.
The gates will open at 5 p.m. every night. Admission will be free on Monday, $10 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and $15 on Thursday-Saturday. Children ages 9 and under are free.
On Monday night, carnival rides will be $1 for all ages, and a $20 armband can be purchased for rides on Tuesday-Saturday. The armbands are valid for one day.
"They're gonna have fun," finance chair Sandy Backes said. "We have a lot to offer. Lots of food, lots of different beverages. Plus, it's one price to get in, and you get a concert and an arena act at the same time."
Schedule
The fair will kick off Monday with the opening ceremony at 5:45 p.m. at the Wyman S. Basinger Flagpole.
The breeding beef show will follow the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. in Barn No. 2, the same time as the Little Mr. and Miss Contest (ages 3-5) on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage.
At 6:30 p.m. will be the Pedal Tractor Pull at the Jaycee Exhibit Hall. The ATV Rodeo will follow at 7 p.m. at the Fletcher Performance and Paint Arena.
ChristiAna will cap night one of the fair with a performance on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage at 8 p.m.
Tuesday will begin with the market swine show in Barn No. 2 at 5 p.m. It's followed by the Disc Golf Putting Tournament at 6 p.m. at Jaycee Exhibit Hall, while Laid Back Band will begin performing on the Cole County Concrete Stage.
At 7 p.m., the Eastern Mo. Truck Pullers and Mid-America Tractor Pullers Association will be at the Fletcher Performance and Paint Arena.
Rock Gods will perform at 9 p.m. on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage.
On Wednesday, the Capital Cornhole Tournament will begin promptly at 6 p.m. at Jaycee Exhibit Hall, the same time as the Market Livestock Auction at Barn No. 2 and a performance by Chill Bone on the Cole County Concrete Stage.
Ham's Prarie Int'l Speedway Go Karts will be at the Fletcher Performance and Paint Arena at 7 p.m.
"New Normal" singer Cooper Alan will conclude night three on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage at 9 p.m.
There will be another cornhole tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday while Chill Bone performs again on the Cole County Concrete Stage.
The JandB Promotions Big Car Derby will start at 7 p.m. at the Fletcher Performance and Paint Arena.
Tate Stevens will perform on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage at 7:30 p.m., followed by Ricochet at 9:15 p.m.
Old Soul Savage will kick off night five on the Cole County Concrete Stage at 6 p.m., and The LACS will perform on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage at 9:30 p.m.
The Mid-Missouri Truck and Trackor Pullers Association will be at the Fletcher Performance and Paint Arena at 7 p.m.
"Our tractor pull on Friday night is usually a big draw," Backes said.
The last day of the fair, Saturday, will begin with a performance from Slick Nickel on the Cole County Concrete Stage at 6 p.m.
Lucky 7's Promotions Figure 8 Derby with Hobo Figure 8, Power Wheels and Powder Puff will be at 7 p.m. at the Fletcher Performance and Paint Arena.
Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry will perform on the Xtreme Body and Paint Stage at 9:30 p.m., and Slick Nickel will conclude the 72nd Annual Cole County Fair at 11 p.m.
For fair updates, check the Jefferson City Jaycees Fair's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JeffersonCityJayceesFair/. For more information about agriculture-related events, see the Cole County 4-H page at https://www.facebook.com/ColeCo4H.
Jason Strickland/News Tribune file photo: Grayson Kautsch, of the Stringtown-Corinth 4-H Club, maneuvers his 1,190-pound entry in the no-fit market beef show at a previous Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair. Kautsch placed first in class 4.
Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune file photo: 9-year old Carmen Luebbering of St. Thomas, smiles back at her mother while enjoying a ride on a swing at the Jaycees Cole County Fair.