MC Fair returns July 15-19

By Jane DeGeorge
Eagle Reporter
Published: July 10, 2008

A big professional wrestling match is coming up.

At Madison Square Garden in New York City?

Maybe on the strip in Las Vegas?

No – the Young Farmers site in Madison. 

The 2008 Madison County Fair – set for July 15-19 – features a KYDA Pro Wrestling event on the fair’s opening night at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 15.

Also new to the fair this year is a “thrilling” Imperial Stunt Car Show, which includes deliberate crashes and high-speed turns, according to Madison County Fair Director and Treasurer Terri Tatum. The car stunt show is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 18.

Madison County residents can once again show off their livestock handling skills in the Buckeye Donkey Races as well.

“That was a big hit last year,” Tatum said of the event where competitors do their best to stay seated on often uncooperative donkeys as they round a track.

Some of the competing teams have created T-shirts to wear during the event, according to Tatum.

Fair organizers are still accepting team sign-ups for the Thursday, July 17 donkey races set for 8 p.m., the fair director said.

This year’s theme – “Critters, Squeals and Ferris Wheels” – was the creation of the fair committee members, according to Tatum.

“We were all throwing out ideas and we put them all together,” Tatum told The Eagle. “[The 2008 theme] just sounded kind of different and we thought it was kind of cute.”

Next year, the fair committee hopes to use a theme suggested by the public, Tatum said. Those interested in coining the theme of the 2009 fair may contact the committee with suggestions, she said.

Carnival rides, livestock shows, food and live music by the Paul Fincham Band, The Deanes, High Horse Cloggers, Tommy Wood and the Boomerbangs Band, will be offered throughout the week at varying times.

In addition to live music, there will also be a live comedy show presented by Almost Amazing Rex and Son at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19.
The entrance to the Madison County Fair – which takes place on the Young Farmers-Future Farmers of America grounds behind Madison County High School – is off Fairground Road near Madison Primary School. 

The gates open at 4 p.m. July 15-18 and at 8 a.m. July 19 and close around 11 p.m. every night.

Admission to the fair costs $5, July 15 and 17; $8, July 18; and $10, July 19. Admission for children younger than 10 is free.

On Wednesday, July 16, donations to the Madison County Volunteer Fire Company and the Madison County Rescue Squad will be accepted in place of admission to the fair.

“You can contribute what you want – you can give a penny or whatever,” Tatum said. “All of the proceeds go to the fire company and the rescue squad.”

A three-day pass, offering admission to all of the fair events (excluding the carnival rides) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is available for $20 at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service office or by sending a check, money order, or cashiers check to Madison County Fair, P.O. Box 1071, Madison, VA 22727. Donations may also be mailed to the above address.

An armband, which costs $12, July 15, and $15, July 16-19, may be purchased each day and provides admission to all carnival rides. Tickets to individual rides may also be purchased separately.

For information and a full schedule of activities, visit http://www.madisoncountyfairva.com or call Terri Tatum at (540) 672-4920.