The Koochiching County Fair will kick off Friday in Northome, and will include some new and returning events, scheduled through Sunday.
One of the largest changes to this year’s fair will be a horse show on the fairgrounds at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The horse show is expected to be held for the first time in a new horse arena constructed on the fairgrounds.
Don Lukenbill, president of the fair association, said last week that weather permitting the finishing touches of laying gravel were expected this week at the horse arena in preparation for the fair.
Lukenbill said that the fair has had a resurgence since opening a new building four years ago.
“The numbers are up, as far as attendance,” Lukenbill said of last year’s fairgoers. “As time goes on, we’ll see a bigger and better fair here.”
Friday
Beginning 9 a.m. Friday will be free rummage sale space. The rummage sale will continue throughout the day. A market will also be open on site, starting 10 a.m.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Star Electric Cooperative will host a free meal at the fairgrounds.
At 2 p.m., judging will begin on 4-H and “big tent” produce, flowers and such. Many of these items will remain on display during the fair.
At 5 p.m., the Mustangs boys basketball team will sponsor a spaghetti feed.
From 5-7 p.m., children can enroll in a Veggie Creature Creation Class, where the kids will decorate vegetables to look like various creatures. A contest will follow.
Saturday
Continuing this year will be the Scenic Sinkhole Scramble, a 5-kilometer or 2-mile run. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds, with the race starting at 9 a.m. This race has been going on for 28 years in conjunction with the fair, Lukenbill said.
Starting at noon Saturday will be games and amusements from Rentertainment. The attractions will open again at 10 a.m. Sunday.
At 3:30 p.m., there will be an animal exhibition for children. Lukenbill said that the show, hosted by a science teacher from Bemidji, will include snakes, lizards and other animals. A sawdust pile for children will open at 4 p.m.
At 5 p.m., there will be a dinner sponsored by the Northome Library.
At 7 p.m., there will be a variety show of local performers, including square dancers, singers and musicians. Lukenbill said they would try to limit the entertainment to 10-12 acts.
At 9 p.m., a fireman’s dance will kick off at the Northome firehall.
At dusk, there will be a fireworks show choreographed to music. Lukenbill said that this is one of the most popular events of the fair, drawing crowds of 1,500 to 2,000 spectators. Lukenbill said that some experienced fair-goers said “it’s the best (fireworks) they’d seen in the state.”
Sunday
Sunday activities will start with an American Legion breakfast served from 7-11 a.m.
A community church service will begin at 9 a.m. at the fairgrounds grandstand.
Following the church service at 10 a.m., Rentertainment will again open the games and amusements.
A bocce ball tournament will begin at 11 a.m. A medallion hunt will also begin at 11 a.m.
The fair board is still looking for participants for an ATV mud run, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., according to Lukenbill.
Kiddie races and games will begin at 2 p.m.
