Menard County Fair Opens July 14 in Petersburg

The Menard County Fair will return to Petersburg next week with livestock and exhibit entries, grandstand events, carnival activities and live music planned at the fairgrounds.

The fair is scheduled for July 14 through July 19 at 18450 Fairgrounds in Petersburg. The posted schedule begins before opening day, with fair office hours and entry deadlines leading into the start of fair week. On Monday, July 13, entries are scheduled to be received in several departments at 4:30 p.m., followed by culinary judging at 7 p.m.

The fair officially opens Tuesday, July 14, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. The day also includes goat weigh-in at 8:30 a.m., judging in several departments at 9 a.m. and the Queen Pageant at 7 p.m. in the grandstand. The fair website also lists categories for exhibitors, livestock, non-livestock entries, grandstand events, kids activities, contests, carnival events, live music and beer pavilion programming.

One of the biggest nights of the fair will come Friday, July 17, when Wyatt Flores performs with Blake Whiten from 8 to 11 p.m. in the grandstand. Tickets are listed at $47 for adults 11 and older and include fair admission, all carnival rides, the grandstand show and free parking. Flores has built a following with a Red Dirt and country sound, with his official site highlighting music from Welcome to the Plains and other recent releases. Whiten brings another rising country voice to the bill. His official site lists tour dates, music and merchandise, while the Grand Ole Opry describes him as a singer-songwriter from Six Mile, South Carolina, whose writing draws from his upbringing.

The fairgrounds are located at 18450 Fairgrounds in Petersburg. More schedule and ticket information is available through the Menard County Fair website.