NEW MILFORD — The Harford Fair is celebrating its 160th year with both traditional events and new attractions.

Monday, Aug. 21, is Active Military and Veteran’s Appreciation Day. All military personnel active duty, retired and veterans are admitted free with valid military or veteran’s photo ID card.

Thursday, Aug. 24 is featured as Family Day with a free evening arena show for everyone. Johnny Rockett’s Cycle Circus Live. beginning at 7:30 p.m., will provide an action-packed show of excitement for all ages.

In addition to the free arena show, there are other free shows throughout the week. In the south end is Hogway Speedway with three free shows daily featuring racing pigs, goats and ducks. The Rhinestone Roper will perform three free shows daily in the north arena. Animal exhibits and demonstrations are always popular daily events at the fair.

Many fairground improvements will be evident as fairgoers roam the fairgrounds. The swine, goat, and sheep barn has a new concrete floor and new pens for the animals. A new rabbit barn has been added to the waterfowl building at the south end.

New food vendors have been added as well.

The annual opening ceremonies of the fair will be held Sunday, Aug. 20. Last year, the Harford Fair Queen Competition was moved to Sunday, with the preliminary queen competition taking place the same day at 3 p.m. in the dining hall, and the coronation was in the main arena. The same schedule will apply to the opening of the 2017 fair, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Musical entertainment will be provided and the evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display beginning at approximately 9:15 p.m. With no admission fee and free parking on Sunday, fairgoers can also enjoy the Draft Horse and Pony Show in the horse arena at 2 p.m. and the Livestock Skill-a-thon in the Cattle Arena at 5:30 p.m. Exhibit buildings and 4H will open Monday at 10 a.m.

WNEP-TV personality Ryan Leckey will broadcast live from the fairgrounds beginning at 4:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21.

The events in the main arena are always a popular attraction for the fair, including the truck and tractor pulls, the woodsman’s contest, the rodeo and the demolition derby. Again this year for the main arena events, the National Anthem will be performed by winners of a contest organized by the Harford Fair Youth Board.

For information on all of the animal, handicrafts, baked goods, and fine arts departments, visit harfordfair.com, the fair’s Facebook page or the premium book available online or at the secretary’s office on the fairgrounds. Those who submitted their entries by the Aug. 1 deadline will need to check page 31 of the premium book for the scheduled times for drop off, judging and pick-up. Several departments have new days and times.

The many trophies, sponsored by local businesses and individuals, will be on display.

Cards for the scavenger hunt are available at the Information Center. This activity encourages children to explore the fairgrounds with their parents and return the completed card for a prize.

The popular graffiti wall will also be available for all fairgoers to add comments, drawings, favorite memories and suggestions.

The week-long event takes an entire year of planning and preparation, which would not be possible without the many volunteers, the superintendents of each department, the generosity of the sponsors, the fair secretary and office staff and the members of the board of directors, as well as the community. The annual profits from the fair, once expenses are paid, are used for improvements and maintenance of the buildings and fairgrounds.

The Rhinestone Roper will perform three free shows daily in the north arena at the 160th Harford Fair, Aug. 21-26.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ABJ-Fair.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Rhinestone Roper will perform three free shows daily in the north arena at the 160th Harford Fair, Aug. 21-26. Submitted photo

For Abington Journal

Information provided by the Harford Fair.