CENTREVILLE — The biggest event in St. Joseph County in 2024 will be getting underway this weekend.
The 2024 St. Joseph County Grange Fair will take place from Sept. 15-22 this year, one of the first times ever the fair will be open for two Sundays.
Fair organizers say they expect an “action-packed” week at the fairgrounds in Centreville, saying that “each day will offer something unique.”
Sunday, Sept. 15 will open up the fair with Family Day. While there will not be rides or games on this day, the 4-H Barns, Commercial Barns, Heritage Hall, Heritage Park, The Birds of Prey, the Gilmore Car Museum, the Community Stage, the Beer Tent, The Miracle of Life Birthing Tent, the St. Joseph County United Way Silent Auction, and the Open Class Antique Tractor Display will be open for viewing. Food vendors and all the barns will be open at noon, and the Farm Truck and Too Hot to Farm Tractor Pulls will be in the grandstand at 3 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 16, it will be Kids Day, featuring the first day of the Midway beginning at 1 p.m. There will be free kids’ activities at the Community Stage and Area 52. Kids Pedal Pulls start at 1 p.m. in Area 52 with free registration beginning at 12 p.m. Capping off the night will be the all-new TK Pro Rodeo at the grandstand at 7 p.m. Free harness racing will also begin at noon in the grandstand.
Tuesday, Sept. 17 is Hometown Heroes Day, featuring a photo tribute to local heroes at the community stage all day. Free HARNESS RACING will take to the racetrack in the Grandstands once again at noon, while the midway opens at 3 p.m. Farm Stock Tractor Pulls, Semi Pulls, and NTPL (National Tractor Pulling Legends Series) will take place at 7 p.m. in the grandstands.
Wednesday, Sept. 18 will be Seniors Day. The midway opens at 3 p.m. and BINGO will begin at 9 a.m. in the Community Stage. TNT Bump N Run and Demolition Deby will take place at 7 p.m. in the grandstands.
Thursday, Sept. 19 will be 4-H Awareness Day, beginning with the 4-H Small Animal Auction at 10 a.m. and the 4-H Large Animal Auction at 10:30 a.m. The midway Opens at 1 p.m., and KOI Dirt Drags (side-by-side dirt drag racing) will take place in the grandstands at 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 20 is Veterans Day, with a Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast followed by a special Veterans Day program in the Community Stage beginning at 8:30 a.m. The midway opens at 1 p.m., with the NTPA Regional National Modified Truck and Tractor Pulls taking place at 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
Saturday, Sept. 21 is FFA and Ag-Education Day, with the midway opening at 11 a.m. A new addition to the fair, country music singer Dewayne Spaw, will take to the grandstand at noon with line dancing as a free event. The Charity Pie eating contest takes place at noon in the Community Stage, and the NTPA Regional National Modified Truck and Tractor Pulls will take place at 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
The fair will be open one more day on Sunday, Sept. 22, for Celebration Day. The midway opens at 1 p.m., with the Blanket Wheel at Area 52 at 6 p.m., and Dewayne Spaw performing a free-admission concert at dusk at the grandstand, followed by a fireworks display.
Spaw will also be performing mini-concerts daily, with times and locations posted on the fair’s website and Facebook page.
Around the fair throughout the week will be a number of other attractions and events. These include the Birds of Prey Extreme Raptor Show, Heritage Park, Heritage Hall, Dewayne Spaw Miracle of Life Birthing Tent, and the Gilmore Car Museum exhibit in Barn 52. Heritage Park this year will feature corn shelling, and sawmill demos, the History of the St. Joseph County Mint Production, The History of Cheese Making, and more. Heritage Hall also returns for its second year, this year focusing on the Village of Mendon. Bingo will take place at 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday and on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Friday.
The St. Joseph County United Way Silent Auction will once again be in Barn 45, with over 1,000 items to bid on, open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, with the last bids due at 3 p.m.
Skerbeck Entertainment Group will be back again this year as the midway company. Single Day Ride wristbands may be utilized any day throughout the week. People can purchase ride wristbands early for $25 until Sunday at 5 p.m., with $125 Mega Bands available, which are good for all week and redeemable for unlimited rides any time on any day. Fair organizers ask that you print a copy or show your mobile e-ticket voucher at the carnival ticket boxes to redeem during the fair. Daily onsite ride wristband specials are $25 Monday through Thursday and $30 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 22. Individual ride tickets are also available, selling four tickets for $5 or you can buy a sheet of 50 for $50. Rides require three to six tickets each except the Top Gun Ride, which requires 12.
4-H shows and exhibits will also be going on throughout fair week, with multiple different animal shows, still exhibits and more. Many of the shows will take place in the mornings at the Henningsen Show Arena, with some occurring in the afternoon.
Admission prices for the fair are $10 for adults, $5 for children 11-16 years old, and free for children 10 years old or under. Parking is free, and there are four courtesy carts available for use to take people to and from the parking lots. On Kids’ Day Monday, anyone 18 and under get in for free. On Hometown Hero Day Tuesday, firefighters, EMTs, dispatch workers, victim services, EMS and law enforcement personnel all get in for $5. On Seniors Day Wednesday, anyone 62 or older gets in for $5. On Veterans Day Friday, veterans, including their spouses, get in for just $5. Flex passes for the fair are $60, and include a booklet of seven admission tickets for entrance into the fair.
Grandstand event ticket prices for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are $12 for adults and $6 for children 5-12 years old. Pit Passes are $20 for Sunday through Thursday events. Grandstand event ticket prices for Friday and Saturday evening NTPA Regional National Modified Truck and Tractor Pulls are $15 for adults, and $6 for children 5-12 years old. Pit Passes are $25 for shows on Friday and Saturday. A $1.35 purchasing and handling fee will be added to all adult grandstand tickets that are purchased online only.
The Nottawa Walk-in gate (next to the garden) and Franklin Street gate (beside the First Aid Station) will be the walk-in gate entrances this year.
Fair officials remind people that cell service will be poor on the fairgrounds, and it is recommended that tickets be downloaded, printed or screenshotted before you arrive at the fairgrounds.
“We look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s 2024 St. Joseph County Grange Fair,” fair officials said in a statement.
