Think about your local fair. The first thing that comes to many people’s minds is the Little Brown Jug.
“The Delaware County Fair is known for its harness racing, but there’s a lot of other stuff here,” said general manager Bill Lowe. “There’s a lot of different things to attract people. If you don’t like the music one day, we’ll probably have something you like in a day or two. I’m really glad we got the fireworks back this year to end the fair, and go out with a bang.”
The county fair starts Saturday and runs through Saturday, Sept. 26.
First things first, though: This year’s Little Brown Jug will again be televised live on the CBS Sports Network from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. The purse is expected to be $700,000 for the Great American Harness Race.
There will be an additional day of racing on Monday, with a full race card, special pricing on food and drink in the grandstand, plus help on reading the program and placing bets.
Motorsports will have a slight change, with the Mini-Tractor Pull moving to opening night; and lawnmower racing has been replaced by Moto Cross.
Entertainment includes two rising country singers — Jessie Brown and Simba Jordan; Cleveland-based Beatles tribute band Hard Day’s Night; along with popular local acts Grassinine and McGuffey Lane. There will be more strolling entertainers, too; and the return of fire-dancing troupe Fire Tribe.
Along with the usual fair food fare, new items to sample include bison and lamb burgers. Among the new vendors is a concrete engraver.
Since Tuesday is traditionally the least-attended day, admission will be lowered to $3, or $2 for senior citizens.
This year, waterlines are being replaced at the back half of the fairgrounds, with the front half getting done after the fair ends. The county and city of Delaware chipped in funds, equipment and manpower to do the work.
Delaware is unique in that it is one of the later county fairs in the state.
“The good part about it is with the fair starting as late as it can start due to Labor Day being late, we get six extra days to prepare for the fair versus last year,” Lowe said.
