By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
CENTREVILLE — The biggest event on the calendar in St. Joseph County will be, according to the theme this year, “Growing the Future” for this year’s edition.
The 2025 St. Joseph County Grange Fair will take place from Sept. 14-21 at the fairgrounds in Centreville, and organizers say there will be plenty to do at this year’s festivities, and that things are coming together quite well so far.
“I tell people it’s a week-long party with 75,000 people,” Fair Manager Christina Yunker said. “All the committees have worked hard, they’re excited about their areas, and I think it’ll be nice. We have a nice fair here, we work hard to make sure it’s clean and safe for everybody, and provide as much free as we can. We’re pretty excited about what’s happening this year.”
Here’s what to expect with this year’s County Fair:
Second Sunday returns
This will be the second year in a row the fair will be open for two Sundays – the 14th and 21st – after some positive feedback around the arrangement last year. While no rides or games will be operating on Opening Day/Family Day on the 14th, there will still be a number of entertainment options available, including the live music at the Community Stage, 4-H shows, and the daily antique tractor parades, as well as food vendors. The big event on the 14th will be the farm truck pulls at the grandstands, which takes place at 3 p.m.
On the final Sunday, the 21st, it will be what Marketing Director Mindy Pleune called a “micro-fair” with the midway opening at 1 p.m. and concluding the fair with a free fireworks show at dusk in the grandstands. Many of the food vendors will not be in attendance on the final Sunday.
Grandstand events
Outside of those two days, there will be plenty of major events taking place at the grandstands throughout the week. On Monday, Sept. 15, harness racing will take place at noon and the TK Pro Rodeo will make its second straight appearance at 7 p.m. that evening. Tuesday, Sept. 16 will feature the Farm Stock Tractors and Semi Pulls at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., the Bump and Run Demolition Derby returns to the fairgrounds. Thursday, Sept. 18 will feature the SJO Motocross event at 7 p.m. returning to the fair after a few years away. Friday, Sept. 19 and Saturday, Sept. 20 will have the NTPA Regional National Modified Truck and Tractor Pulls beginning at 7 p.m. both nights.
Ticket prices vary for all grandstand events. The Farm Truck Pulls, Farm Stock Tractors and Semi Pulls, Bump and Run Demolition Derby, and SJO Motocross are $12 for adults, while the TK Pro Rodeo and the Modified Truck and Tractor Pulls are $15 for adults. Children from 5-12 years old get into all grandstand events for $6, with children 4 years old or under getting in for free. Pit passes range from $15-$25 for all ages. Harness Racing will be free to attend on Monday.
Community Tent
For those looking to stay frugal during the fair, the largest amount of free events this year will take place at the Community Tent throughout the week, located just past the main M-86 entrance into the fair. It’ll feature live music every day, as well as some specialty events.
A Catholic Mass and Homemaker of the Year presentation will go on Sunday, Sept. 14; a Battle of the Bands featuring local high school bands will run from noon to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15; a cheese-making class will go from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16; a team puzzle competition will be held from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17; a cooking class ran by River Trade Brewing Company of Constantine will be from 12:30-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18; a Veterans Breakfast from 8:30-10:30 a.m., a Veterans Day program from 9-11 a.m. and a sourdough bread-making class from 4-5 p.m. is highlighted for Friday, Sept. 19; and finally, the annual charity pie-eating contest will commence at noon on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Live entertainment include Redeemed Community Church, the Firm Foundations Worship Team, the Holy Angels Dance Group, the Mendon Farmer’s Market Pick-Up Band, The Whistle Pigs, Surf Inc., Sparkle and Shine Dance Studio, Shi Bheag Si Mhor, Full Measure, Flatlanders and Outlaws, the Heartland Country Cloggers, and the Y-Naut Band.
Throughout the week, the Community Stage will also feature daily Bingo Monday through Saturday, as well as make-and-take crafts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ron Weston, who helped put together the activities for the Community Stage, said this year’s Community Stage was a fun one to put together.
“I’ve been doing the Community Stage for 15 years, and I think this is the best, activity-wise, that I’ve ever seen,” Weston said.
Heritage Park
All-new to the fair this year will be a Sea Lion Splash Encounter show at Heritage Park on the west side of the grounds across from the First Aid station. There will be two to three shows daily, with free admission, showcasing the talents, behaviors and personalities of sea lions.
Heritage Park this year will also feature a number of demonstrations of farming equipment and different trades. These will include corn shelling, bucket making, blacksmithing, and a history of mint production in St. Joseph County. Open Class antique tractors will also be on display and have daily parades through the grounds, and an antique combine and fan will be on display.
Heritage Hall celebrates the 1960s, Colon and Leonidas
At Barn 49, Heritage Hall will make a return this year, celebrating the 1960s with a car display, vintage clothing, and a number of displays of what life was like during that time.
In addition, Heritage Hall will be focusing on the villages of Colon and Leonidas as part of their yearly rotation highlighting the different municipalities in the county. Weston, who also coordinated Heritage Hall, said when he approached Colon about being featured in Heritage Hall, they “got all sorts of excited about it.”
“They are really putting it together,” Weston said. “They’re bringing all this stuff over, we’re setting it all up, and it’s going to be fun. They have a wonderful group of people over there.
A celebration of Colon, the Magic Capital of the World, would not be complete without magic, so there will be daily magic shows at Heritage Hall throughout the week, featuring local magicians, illusionists and ventriloquists.
Alan Kazam will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, “Amazing Mike” Mike Conklin will perform at 5 p.m. Sept. 15; Brian Penny will perform Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.; Magician Kevin Long will take the stage at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17; Magic by Jania, one of the top female magicians in the United States, will perform Thursday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m.; the Amazing Magic of Joe Bennett will perform Friday, Sept. 19 at 5 p.m.; and a tripleheader of performers will go Saturday, Sept. 20 – John Dudley at 1 p.m., ventriloquist Brynn Cummings at 3 p.m., and Colon’s very own BJ Mallen at 5 p.m.
Weston said getting Cummings, a former America’s Got Talent contestant, to come and perform at the fair was something he was excited about as well.
“One of her starts was in Colon. When she heard we were putting on this tribute to Colon, it was, no problem, she’ll be there,” Weston said.
Midway rides and entertainment
Skerbeck Entertainment Group returns as the ride company for this year’s County Fair, and will have 28 rides and activities, including a new ride called “Overdrive.” Yunker also added that two kids’ rides were added this year, “Airplane” and “Speed Boats.”
There will also be returning food vendors selling all kinds of fair food, from corn dogs and hot dogs to cheese curds and fried vegetables. Yunker said there were also some new food vendors coming over this year.
The midway will open at different times throughout the week. On Monday, Friday, and Sunday the 21st, the midway opens at 1 p.m.; on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the midway opens at 3 p.m., and Saturday, the midway opens at 11 a.m.
Single-day wristbands are available for $28 per day prior to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. After Sept. 14, Monday through Wednesday wristbands will be $28, Thursday and Friday wristbands will cost $30, Saturday wristbands costs $35, and Sunday, Sept. 21 wristbands cost $30. Mega Bands for unlimited rides on every day of the county fair are available until 5 p.m. Sept. 14, and will be $125. Mega Bands will not be sold during fair week.
Individual ride tickets will also be available at $1.50 per ticket or a sheet of 50 tickets for $60. Rides require three to six tickets each except for the extreme ride Top Gun, which requires 12. Those with wristbands will need four additional tickets to ride Top Gun.
In addition, vendor barns will also be full and ready to go, including the new Barn 42, which has been rebuilt since a fire burned down the old barn in April 2024.
4-H and animal events
As always, one of the main parts of the fair is the 4-H competitions and animal-related activities throughout the week. The 4-H kids will be plenty busy throughout the week, and patrons are encouraged to support them as well at the shows.
The following 4-H events will take place on the following days in the morning, unless otherwise noted:
- Sunday, Sept. 14: Horse Show Day 1, Rabbit Show, Poultry Show
- Monday, Sept. 15: Horse Show Day 2, Swine Show, Open Class and 4-H Goat Shows
- Tuesday: Sept. 16: Horse Show Day 3, Open Class and 4-H Beef Cattle Show, Dairy Feeder Show, Sheep Show (4 p.m.), Horse Costume Class (6:30 p.m.)
- Wednesday, Sept. 17: Horse Show Day 4, Open Class and 4-H Dairy Cattle, Animal Project Demonstrations, Performances, Public Speaking and Illustrated Talks (3 p.m.), Style Revue (6:45 p.m.)
- Thursday, Sept. 18: Small Animal and Large Animal Sales
- Friday, Sept. 19: Sweepstakes Showmanship Contest (7 p.m.)
One of the big changes to this year’s fair is new management and a new location for the Miracle of Birth Tent, which will be known as the Tiny Tales Birthing Barn. It is now run by Jenny Nofziger and Sarah Miller and located north of the duck pond and Barn 35, closer to the M-86 entrance. The pair said they are striving to keep the original mission of the tent, which is to be an educational exhibit for those in the community who don’t know a lot about baby animals.
“We are striving to keep that, although we are adding a lot of cuteness to it,” Nofziger said. “We’ve expanded as far as turkeys and chickens and pheasants and peacocks and quail, and each one will have their own enclosures, so they’ll have more room. We’re still having the incubators, but we’re also including Learning Labs. We’re going to get one of those a day from the 4-H office so people can also take part in those Learning Labs.”
Other non-4-H animal events during the fair include Mini Pony Pulls at 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Open Class Horse Halter Show at 9 a.m. Thursday, Draft Pony Pulls at 6 p.m. Thursday, and Draft Horse Pulls at 6 p.m. Friday, all at the Horse Show Arena. A livestock judging contest will take place Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Henningsen Show Arena.
The Milking Parlor will also be running twice a day throughout the fair.
Other Events/Info
The St. Joseph County United Way will hold their annual silent auction at Barn 45 throughout the week, with over 1,100 items to bid on, with proceeds going directly to the United Way.
Area 52, located near Barn 52, will host kids’ activities, including pedal pulls and stick pony races, as well as the Blanket Wheel throughout the week on the west end outside the building. Inside Barn 52, the Gilmore Car Museum will have their annual display throughout the week.
One new location for the Courtesy Carts has been added where the Miracle of Life Birthing Tent previously was, making nine locations in total. A courtesy cart will be available at each stop every 15 minutes.
Beer tents will be located at the pavilion west of the grandstands from 4-10 p.m. daily, the tent at the west end of Barn 53 from 4-10 p.m. daily, and at the Community Stage from 5-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
An interactive scavenger hunt will take place daily, with a clue to where a goodie bag will be located posted on the St. Joseph County Grange Fair Facebook page daily. Goodie bags include fair merchandise as well as either a wristband voucher, daily pass, or grandstand event tickets.
Admission
Admission for the fair is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 11-16 years old. Children 10 and under get in free and parking is free. Gates open at 8 a.m. Sept. 14-20, while gates open at 1 p.m. Sept. 21. Admission is free on Sept. 21.
Special day admission prices are also available. On Monday, Sept. 15, kids 18 and under get in for free. On Tuesday, Sept. 16, firefighters, EMT, dispatch, Victim Services, medical and law enforcement employees get in for just $5. On Wednesday, Sept. 17, seniors 62 and older get in for just $5. Finally, on Friday, Sept. 19, veterans – including spouses – get in for just $5.
A purchasing and handling fee will be placed on all tickets that are purchased online, and cash will still be taken at the gates. Fair officials ask that all tickets, passes and ride wristband vouchers be downloaded, printed or screenshotted on phones prior to arriving at the fairgrounds due to poor cellular service.
Overall, Yunker said people can expect to have a good time with the county fair this year.
“Come, have a good time,” Yunker said. “Plan to spend the day, check out all the activities and all the areas and make sure you watch all the free shows.”
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
