Kewaunee County Fair returns

LUXEMBURG – On Tuesday, July 8, the Kewaunee County Fair will kick off with a dinner at the fairgrounds from 6-8 p.m. There will be brief presentations by the Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce awarding their fundraising partners for the Dairy Days Dash and the Annual Golf Outing, and the Kewaunee County Fair Board and the Fairest of the Fair will also speak to attendees.

The fairgrounds officially open on Thursday, July 10, and will stay open until the fair parade on Sunday, July 13. This year’s theme is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and participants are encouraged to choose what they consider to be the most wonderful time. The fair parade begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. Pre-registration is not required, and interested parties can bring their vehicle or float down Church Road and line up in the neighborhood behind Simonar Shell on Charles Dr., Pine Tree Ln. and Alfred Dr.

Volunteers will route participants into the parade exiting Robin Ln. then north on Main St. To be a part of the contest and have your parade vehicle judged, you must be present at the staging area before 10 a.m.

Spectators should plan to arrive early to find parking on side streets as Main St. will be closed for the parade route. The parade begins at St. Mary’s Church, heads down Main St., turns left at Ralph St. and then left again at First St. and finally turns right on Elm St., ending at the county fairgrounds. The parade announcers will be located across from the Bank of Luxemburg - Main Branch.

Because Main St. will be closed to traffic for the duration of the event, those who wish to travel around Luxemburg during this time should use Frontier Rd. between Church Rd. to the south and Highway 54 on the north. According to the Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce, while Frontier Rd. may not appear on map apps, it is a complete road.

Showings

Showings will begin on Monday, July 7 with Open Class Entry from 9:30 a.m. to noon and Junior Fair Judging from 12:30-6 p.m.

Available categories include plants and soil science, photography, woodworking, mechanical, model horse show and Open Class Judging at 6:30 p.m. All animals must be entered and on the grounds on Wednesday, July 9 at 4 p.m. Weigh-ins for steer, lamb, goats, rabbits and poultry will all take place before 4 p.m. Animals will be released by farm superintendents at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13.

On July 10, showings will be held for horses, sheep, rabbits, beef and hogs, with the horse show starting the day at 8 a.m. and the final showing of hogs beginning at 5:30 p.m. On July 11, the greatly-anticipated dairy showings begin with Open and Junior at 8 a.m. Siegmund has fond memories going back to the very first heifer he showed.

“When I was nine years old, I staged my first heifer,” Siegmund said. “Her name was Robina, and she was a frisky one.”

The day will be rounded out with a Junior and Open poultry showing, the horse drill team followed by gymkhana, ending the evening with a Round Robin Showmanship beginning at 6:30 p.m.

On July 12, the day will start at 8 a.m. with an Open Class horse showing, followed by the Fairy Tales Animal Show at 11 a.m. There will be a Junior Fair Livestock Auction at 1 p.m. and the showings will end with the horse drill team and Dairy Futurity.

On July 13, the showings will begin at 9 a.m. with an Open Speed Horse Show. After the parade, they will continue with Kiddie and Alumni Showmanship, starting at 2 p.m. The Kiddie Tractor Pull follows and the showings conclude with a herdsmanship and checkout meeting at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.kewauneecountyfair.com/premium-book/.

Events

While there are classic events every year like dairy showings, the Fair Board also rotates new events based on public feedback.

According to Fair Board President Keith Siegmund, one of the Board’s main priorities is creating a stress-free and fun environment that encourages both guests and vendors to return.

“We have to do what we can to make sure they’re going to come back next year. We have to make it enjoyable,” he said.

Showings still span from Monday to Sunday, while other events typically happen from Thursday through Sunday.

Some of this year’s more recent events include Strut Your Mutt, where dogs are judged in five categories: Tallest, shortest, best tricks, on-theme and best bark. That showing took place on Monday, June 30. The Crown Sash and Dash, a 5K run/walk, is another fairly recent event, one which will be cycled out after this year.

Participants are encouraged to dress in formal wear and proceeds benefit the Kewaunee County Fairest of the Fair program. The dash will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 8 a.m. starting at the Family Stage. Three Fairest of the Fair ambassadors will be present throughout the fair: Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair Megan Salentine, the second-ever statewide Fairest of the Fair from Kewaunee County; the Kewaunee County Fairest of the Fair Lashawna Vogel and Junior Fairest of the Fair Evie Micolichek.

Another unique event held by the fair is the Tallest Weed Contest.

Anyone who feels they have a particularly large weed can cut it down and bring it to the Exhibition Hall on July 12 by noon for the chance at a prize. Weeds cannot be poisonous or woody plants (ex. Trees). Weeds must also be donated for display to qualify.

The fair will also have classic rides like a Ferris wheel and Tilt-A-Whirl, and a kids’ event on July 10 which will host 200+ daycare students with free lunch and activities like petting animals and feeling the milk machine.

Live music

Some of the artists and bands that will be performing on the fairgrounds include The Faster Horses on July 10 from 7-10 p.m.; Spice Band on Friday, July 11 from 5-8 p.m.; Craig Cambell also on July 11 from 9-10:30 p.m.; Avenue 55 and Grand Union on July 12 from 6 p.m. to midnight with alternating slots; Grand Union, also on July 12 and Spicy Tie band on Sunday, July 13 from 2-5 p.m.

On July 10, there will be a Motorsports Truck and Tractor pull at Grandstand from 7-9 p.m. The Farm Tractor Pull will take place on July 12 from 6-8 p.m. Finally, the fair will end on Sunday, July 13 with a Prelude to the King race presented by Tracy Neil Motorsports. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Fair Board’s work continues to carry on a tradition that has brought Kewaunee County together for decades. Siegmund said he hasn’t missed a fair in 50 years, and doesn’t plan to anytime soon.