It's that time of season, it's that time of year, the Allen County Fair is here.
The 169th Allen County Fair runs from August 16-24 and Fair Manager Bob Fricke Says it's going to be a great time. All the traditional favorites are back 35 rides, lots of food, livestock exhibits, open class exhibits, merchant exhibits, and six entertainment areas. This year's headline concert is Kane Brown with Seaforth. Bob says there are only a few hundred tickets left for the concert and when they sell out, this will be the largest concert ever hosted at the fairgrounds, with more than 11,000 people in attendance. This year, for the first time, adult beverages will be sold at the concert with 100% of the proceeds going to fund capital improvements on the grounds. Bob says the new roof on the dairy barn cost $50,000 and the new roof on the pony barn was $20,000, plus they've updated the bleachers and made other improvements to the fairgrounds, so this extra money is definitely needed.
All the festivities begin on Sunday, August 11 with the Allen County Fair Parade. It begins at 2:00 at Northland Plaza and marches down Main Street to Town Square. Events begin at 7:00am on Friday, August 16, withe the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 4:00 that afternoon. The fair closes at midnight on Saturday, August 24. Fricke says nearly 200,000 people attend the Allen County Fair every year. Tickets are just $7 and season passes and memberships are available. There is one change with tickets this year...those who purchase individual tickets will not be able to return to the fairgrounds once they have left, but those who purchases season passes and memberships are welcome to leave and return.
Also at Monday's meeting, nearly $57,000 was presented to the Lima Rotary Foundation from the following sources:
Spring Blood Clinic- $10,740.00
Scholarship proceeds from the golf outing- $40,000.00
Bueno Noches Fund- $721.00
Voluntary Scholarship contribution- $5,325.00
Thanks to everyone who made this possible. We use these funds to provide scholarships to non-traditional students, awards grants to local non-profit organizations and fund international service.
We also got a floor show and update from the High Octane Drumline from Pilot Bradley. He says in the eight years of High Octane's existence, they have served 75 students. The Lima Rotary Club has helped purchase equipment for the drumline as well the trailer used to transport it. High Octane Drumline has open enrollment from September 1-September 30. Interested students can contact the Bradfield Center for more information.
And congratulations to Heather Jordan who received her blue badge.
.JPG)