The Midway rides are a favorite, whether you are young or old.

You’ve got to hand it to the Chesterfield County Fair: for having turned 96 this year, it still looks great.

This year’s fair, themed “Fun for All Ages,” includes returning attractions, vendors, and performers, along with some new entertainments that are sure to help the fair live up to its theme.

“We have some contests that are going to be new to the fair this year: a baby contest, a hot dog eating contest, a watermelon seed spitting contest, a bubble-gum blowing contest,” says Jan Rusbasan, Chesterfield County Fair secretary. “There will also be a Festival Latino all day Sunday, which is new and exciting.” The festival will include music and food vendors celebrating Hispanic culture.

Musical entertainment will kick off at the fair with local Christian rock band Crimson Flow; Keith Henderson’s “Illusions of the King” Elvis show, which Rusbasan says “is always a big draw,” will take place on Saturday. Doo wop group Bak N Da Day, another old favorite, is scheduled to perform on Monday night; Patron Band will perform on Wednesday, with Southland Band on Thursday and Legends, a group of oldies singers, will perform Friday. “We have some excellent groups,” Rusbasan says. “We try to have entertainment that’s local, as well as some that’s from out of state.”

Those who want to participate in singing can also take place in David Allen’s Karaoke. A change has been made to karaoke this year, Rusbasan notes: rather than holding a karaoke contest, a decision was made to hold an open event for all ages.

When it comes to daily attractions, all the old standards will be back: the antique tractor and farm equipment display, barrel train rides with the Chesterfield Tractor Club, bingo with the Bensley-Bermuda Rescue Squad, a children’s tent, Dimples and Honey Bee the clowns, Lambeth’s Petting Zoo, a midway from Jolly Shows, the mechanical bull, the model train display, pony rides, and roller pigeons. “The roller pigeons will be back along with homing pigeons, and they’ll be putting on demonstrations throughout the weekend,” says Rusbasan. “They’re bred that way – they just roll through the air. It’s pretty wild!”  

The arts and crafts displays will be as full of talent as ever, with categories covering home-grown crops, baked goods, sewing and embroidery, visual arts, flowers, and more. Once again, Chesterfield will be participants in the Virginia Egg Council angel food cake contest; information about the contest can be found on the county fair website.

“From all reports we’ve seen throughout the country, fair attendance is up nationwide, so we’re looking forward to a good year this year,” Rusbasan says. “We’re really excited about it. The tents are up already, and we’re cleaning up the fairgrounds to get everything ready to go.”

The Chesterfield County Fair runs Friday, August 28 through Saturday, September 5. Hours are 4-11 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; and 1-11 p.m. Sunday. The Chesterfield County Fairgrounds are located at 10300 Courthouse Rd. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for seniors 60 and older, $3 for ages 6-12, and free for children under five years old. Wristbands, which offer their wearers the chance to visit unlimited rides, are $20 per person.

Those who wish to join the fair can become members for $6 and receive two free tickets to the following year’s fair.

For more information, visit the fair website at chesterfieldcountyfair.org.

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