Kosciusko County Fairgrounds was buzzing with preparation on Saturday, July 9, ahead of next week’s fair. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Staff Report

WARSAW – The annual parade that kicks off the Kosciusko County Fair is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 10, under pleasant weather conditions.

The lineup for the parade begins at 2 p.m. at the old Marsh supermarket parking lot at the corner of Winona Avenue and South Buffalo streets.

The parade starts on Lake Street, and turns east on Center Street and then south on Bronson Street to the fairground’s main entrance.

Sunny conditions and a high of 81 are expected for Sunday.

In fact, there is no chance of rain in the forecast for the upcoming week, with highs mostly in the low 80s, the National Weather Service predicts.

This year marks the 105th year of the fair. This year’s theme will be “A Salute To Kosciusko County Agriculture.”

With COVID precautions in the rear-view mirror, this summer’s fair will hopefully serve as an opportunity to return to normal activities.

Fairgrounds Officer Manager Jeannette Wood said she believes the post-pandemic circumstance will be as normal “as can be expected.”

“The new normal – absolutely,” she said.

The fair board has lined up the following nightly attractions:

• Monday, Broken Horn Rodeo
• Tuesday, Monster Truck Mash
• Wednesday, Mudball
• Thursday, Draft horse pulls
• Friday, Demolition derby

Saturday, Show and Shine and the truck and tractor pulls.

While the fairgrounds will get plenty of use from the old race track, the ban on motorized racing – re-emphasized in a lawsuit a few years ago – will not be part of the attractions.

Another change will be a lack of musical entertainment. The fair has almost always offered some type of entertainment in the grandstand, but that won’t happen this year. Attempts to bring in musical artists did not prove to be popular, said Wood.

Once again, admission to the fair will be $8 for anyone ten and older. Children nine and younger get free admission.

The lunchtime special also returns this year. Visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors get in for $5 and can have it refunded if they leave by 1 p.m.

That policy was first established in 2019, Wood said.

The county fairgrounds is at 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw.

The fun begins at 6 p.m. Monday night, July 11. Fair activities will run from noon to 11 p.m. each night through Saturday, July 16.

Workers for North American Midway were assembling rides on Thursday, July 7. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.