The summer months are fast approaching and with it comes the DeKalb County Fair. But this year’s fair will be held the earliest in its history and will feature the return of some favorite events, offer some new spectacles, and even an affordable season pass.

DeKalb County Fair Manager Jeff McMillen told the Smithville Review that this year’s fair will be held on June 24-29. Traditionally, the fair is held after the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival, but McMillen said that issues with the carnival forced the early dates.

“Not only are the dates changing, but our carnival is changing to the James Gang Amusement Company,” McMillen explained. “They have a website and a Facebook page for anyone wanting to see the rides that they have. Trying to book the carnival was the big issue. We couldn’t come to an agreeable date. They wanted to move our dates, and they also wanted to go to a five-day fair instead of a six-day fair. We just had to make the move because we just couldn’t go into the areas that they were wanting to go to, and couldn’t afford a five-day fair. Our income is what funds the fair all year long. We’re not funded by anyone. We have to pay our own electric bill and everything.”

The original Fair, in the mid-1800s, was held in October, but as time moved on the schedules were altered around the school calendar. For many years, the fair was held the last week of August. The first day of school in those years was usually the first week of September, with the fair as the last hoorah of summer. As the school years progressively crept more into the month of August, the fair dates changed with it.

“This will be the earliest the fair will be held since I’ve been involved with it, and I’ve probably been involved 50 years or better,” McMillen said.

With the early date, some display items will certainly be affected such as crop items such as corn, pumpkins, and watermelons, but McMillen says that it opens the door for other crops such as strawberries and other early crops.

“Most of the jams and jellies, and canning, can be entered as long as it is made the year before. Anything made after last year’s fair is eligible. We may still have tomatoes and maybe other categories will pop up this year. We’re trying to get the word out this year. We want people to know it’s going to be earlier, so they may want to start some items earlier than they have before.”

There will also be some new events this year, and the return of a favorite. “We will have what the call a Junk Car Jump and Run on Monday night,” McMillen explained. “It’s been popular at other fairs and they use some of the derby cars. People can check it out on Youtube to get an idea of what it is. Two cars race on an oval track, which includes bumps that cause the cars to jump and bump into one another.”

“Tuesday and Wednesday will be the ATV and 4-wheeler races, which we’ve have the past 10 years, and on Thursday we have scheduled a monster truck exhibition, which will feature a truck to ride the kids in. After the trucks put on a show, kids will be allowed again to ride in the monster truck.”

“On Friday night, the rodeo returns to the fair, and of course Saturday night will be the demolition derby,” McMillen said.

With all cost on the rise, the fair has also had to up the admission prices, but McMillen said that the fair board has come up with an affordable option.

“We have increased the ticket price by $2, due to the quality of events and the increase in costs, but we’ve gone an extra step this year by offering a deal for people that feel the increase is too much. We’re going to offer a season pass this year.”

“If you pay the regular price, it will cost you $42 to go to the fair each night for a the week, but we’re going to sell those season passes for $30. That comes out to what the price has been in the past, but you have to buy these season passes in advance.”

“The last opportunity you will have to purchase the season pass will be the Saturday before the fair begins. They should be available at Liberty State Bank and Wilson Bank locations in DeKalb, and at the office of the Smithville Review. The ticket office at the fairgrounds will also be open the same hours the display items are received, the two Saturdays before the fair date.”

“We hope to be selling the passes by May 1, and they will be a sheet with six tickets on it. They will be prenumbered, and customers may use them with six family members for one night, three for two nights, or even one person all six nights, etc. It’s up to them how they use them,” McMillen said.

“We’re trying to do everything we can do to make it at feasible and affordable as we can for families to come out and have some fun. We’re looking forward to a good year, and hope everyone joins us for the Grandpa Fair of the South.”