While the pandemic kept the Kosciusko County Community Fair from happening in 2020, it’s back for 2021, with a parade and opening ceremonies kicking everything off Sunday.

Parking is free. Admission, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., is $8 for adults (10 to 64) and free for children 9 and under. Seniors (65 and older) are $3.

Weekly admission for adults is $40.

Fair lunch passes (yellow ticket only) are sold at the main gate C only and available weekdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Park at the main gate C. Pick up the pass at the main gate ticket booth with a $5 deposit. Enter at the main gate. Return to the main gate by 2 p.m. for a full refund with a yellow ticket only.

Here are the list of events for the fair, as listed in information provided by the fair. All events are subject to change and more information can be found online at kcfair.com:



Ongoing Events

• Free on-ground entertainment will be available Monday through Saturday, July 17, which includes the Aussie Kingdom and The Bengal Tiger Encounter.

The Aussie Kingdom, owned by Carolyn Lantz, is the only traveling Australian animal show in the United States, according to information provided. Along with its three daily shows, the audience can see many interesting facts about the different species of kangaroos, wallabies and more.

The Bengal Tiger Encounter provides “an inspirational and educational program featuring the incredible Bengal tiger,” information provided states.



Sunday

• 9 a.m., church service, Leesburg Grace Church, event center.

• As the old saying goes, everyone loves a parade, and this year the parade starts at 4 p.m., with lineup at 3 p.m. in the large lot behind the Warsaw Police Department. It will begin on East Fort Wayne Street, to McKinley Street, then Market Street and finally Bronson Street to the main entrance of the fairgrounds.

There is no rain date. The parade will be held unless a state of emergency is in effect.

• A free gospel sing and evening services will be in the grandstands Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m.

• The 104th Annual Opening Ceremonies are at 6 p.m. Sunday in the horse arena.  

Monday

• 9 a.m., admission gates open.

• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure, event center area.

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens.

• 3 & 6 p.m. Aussie Kingdom, Shrine area.

• The IPRA World Championship Rodeo is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the grandstand. Gates open at 6 p.m. All grandstand events are free, excluding pit entrance.

It will include stick horse races for children, with two age groups: 5 and under and 6 to 9 years old. A free bicycle will be given in each age group.

• At the event center, the children’s pageants are Monday. Registration starts at 5 p.m.

• 6 p.m., midway opens.

• 7 p.m. Bengal Tiger Encounter.

• 8 p.m. Commercial tent closes.

Tuesday

• The Monster Truck Mash will be in the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds grandstands at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the pit party at 6 p.m. featuring Monster Truck rides. Grandstand admission is free, but pit pass is $15.

• Kid’s Day! Free kids breakfast from 9 to 10 a.m. at the event center.

• 9 a.m., commercial tent opens, gates open, Wonderfully Made event (hands-on activities) at the event center.

• 10 a.m. Lake City Bank coin hunt at the event center.

• 11 a.m. Fun with the Queen and Court at the event center.

• noon, Deb Collier’s School of Dance, event center.

• 1, 3 & 7 p.m. Bengal Tiger Encounter at the commercial tent area.

• 2 p.m. Silly Safaris at the event center.

• 2 & 6 p.m. Aussie Kingdom at the Shrine area.

• 2 p.m. Carnival rides open; Kiddies Day special is $1 per ride all day at the midway.

• 3:30 p.m. Silly Safaris at the event center.

• 4 to 4:30 p.m & 5 to 5:30 p.m., event center, Tag Art Super Hero Time.

• 5 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Pull Registration; ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12; main drive by fair office. Top three in each age group receive a prize.

• 8 p.m. Commercial tent closes.

Wednesday

• Senior Day! Seniors 65 and older, $1 admission.

• Community Day. Visit the nonprofit booths along the midway from 1 to 5 p.m.

• 8 a.m., Miller’s Senior Living welcomes seniors at the event center. Free senior breakfast.

• 9 a.m., admission gate and commercial tent open.

• 9 a.m., signing performance from Captain Bob, event center. Senior programs and entertainment at the event center. Free blood pressure checks.

• 10 a.m. Senior bingo and euchre, event center.

• 11 a.m., 4 & 7 p.m., Aussie Kingdom, Shrine area.

• noon, Chain Gang Barbershop Quartet performance, event center.

• 1 p.m., free senior ice cream social, event center.

• 2 & 6 p.m. Bengal Tiger Encounter, commercial tent area.

• 3 p.m. Carnival rides open, midway. Pop wristband until 11 p.m.

• Love baking pies? Sponsored by the Kosciusko County Fair Board, the 2021 pie-baking contest is Wednesday. The contest is open to the public. No store-bought pastry shells or fillings are allowed.

It is for pies only, no tarts, crisps or cobblers. Pies must be submitted in a disposable pie tin. All pies become the property of the KCCF.

Categories include adult fruit, nut, cream, custard and other. One entry per person per category.

Recipes and pies must be submitted by noon Wednesday at the fair office. No pies will be accepted after 12:30 p.m.

Judging begins at 3 p.m. and will be based on taste, crust, appearance and creativity. Judge’s decisions are final, and ribbons will be given.

• The International Trotting & Pacing Association harness racing will start at 7:30 p.m., with gates open at 6 p.m. Free grandstand.

• 8 p.m., commercial tent closes.

Thursday

• Farmer’s Day/Trucker’s Day/U.S. Military Day

• 9 a.m., gates open.

• 1 p.m., commercial tent opens.

• 1 & 3 p.m., Aussie Kingdom at the Shrine area.

• 3 p.m., carnival rides open at the midway, Pop wristband until 11 p.m.

• 4 & 7 p.m., Bengal Tiger Encounter, commercial tent area.

• 5 p.m., Aussie Kingdom at commercial tent area.

• Heavy weight horse pull will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds track and grandstands. First place gets $400, and prize money will be awarded to the top 10 placings.

• In the event center Thursday is Kosciusko’s Got Talent for all ages, 6 p.m.

• 8 p.m., commercial tent closes.

Friday

• 9 a.m., gates open.

• 1 p.m., commercial tent opens.

• 1 & 6:30 p.m., Aussie Kingdom at the Shrine area.

• 3 p.m., carnival rides open, regular ticket prices, at the midway.

• 3 & 7 p.m., Bengal Tiger Encounter at the commercial tent area.

• 4 p.m., 4-H STEM Learning K-6th (hands-on activities), event center; Aussie Kingdom at the Shrine area.

• Drivers are wanted for the 9th Annual Shaggy Memorial Demolition Derby.

The Demolition Derby is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the grandstands. Prizes range from $50 to $600-$1,000 depending on category.

There is a $25 entry fee, and the purse is $6,000.

For rules, visit kcfair.org. For a hard copy, visit the fair office at the fairgrounds.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for kids 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger. Pit passes are $15.

• 8 p.m., commercial tent closes.

Saturday, July 17

• 9 a.m., gates open.

• 1 p.m., carnival rides open. Last Blast Pop wristband honored until 6 p.m. Regular tickets after 6 p.m.

• 1 p.m., Commercial tent opens.

• 1, 3, 5 & 7 p.m., Aussie Kingdom at the Shrine area.

• 3:30, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m., Bengal Tiger Encounter, commercial tent area.

• 2 p.m., Show & Shine judging starts, channel area.

• The truck and tractor pulls with hot semis start at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 17. Gates open at 4 p.m. Cost is $30 per pull, and a pit pass for an adult is $15.

• 8 p.m., commercial tent closes.

Extension Homemakers Shows/Events

• Sunday, Home & Family Arts Building (HFA), 7 p.m., “Demonstration: New Recipe to Share with Everyone with Danielle Miller.”

• Monday, HFA, 7 p.m., “Demonstration: Cake Mixes with Sue Martin.”

• Tuesday, HFA, 7 p.m., “Demonstration: Food Canning with Tammy Boggs.”

• Wednesday, HFA, 11:30 a.m., Pardee Gunter will be talking about his tower garden. At noon, a dish prepared using products from the tower garden.

• Thursday, HFA, 7 p.m., “Demonstration: Instant Pot Cooking with Jackie Franks.”

• Friday, HFA, 7 p.m., “Demonstration: Scarf Making with June Thomas.”

• Saturday, July 17, HFA, 8 p.m., winners announced for silent auction of homemade items and drawing for quilt.

Antique Tractor/Village Shows/Events

All events are held in the antique area and weather permitting. Antique display open to the public and non-members welcome.

• Sunday, 5 p.m., homemade ice cream.

• Monday, 5:30 p.m., popcorn; 6 p.m., tractor driving experience; 7 p.m., “Demonstration: Old Time Sawmill.”

• Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., sweet corn and homemade ice cream; noon, tractor driving experience.

• Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., chili; 6 p.m., tractor driving experience; 7 p.m., “Demonstration: Old Time Sawmill.”

• Thursday, 5:30 p.m., ham & beans and homemade ice cream; 6 p.m., tractor driving experience.

• Friday, tractor driving experience, 6 p.m.

4-H Shows/Events

• Saturday

– 2:30 p.m., dog obedience and rally, event center.

– 6 p.m., goat royalty contest, show barn; mini 4-H goat show, show barn; rabbit ambassador contest, rabbit barn; American Heritage judging, antique display area.

– 7 p.m., horse and pony opening ceremonies & costume class, horse arena.

– 8 p.m., horse and pony last year member spotlight ride, horse arena.

– 9 p.m., horse and pony pizza party, horse barn.

– TBA, dog obedience show, event center.

• Sunday

– 7 to 10 a.m., poultry breakfast, poultry barn.

– 9 a.m., horse & pony exploring/mini 4-H show, horse arena.

– noon, Battle of the Barns, show barn.

– 1 to 9 p.m., 4-H exhibits open, Shrine building.

– 1:30 p.m., Alpaca show, show barn.

– 4 p.m., goat specialty show, goat barn.

– 5 p.m., dog agility show, The Point.

– 7 p.m., miniature horse versatility, horse arena.

• Monday

– 9 a.m., horse and pony show Western Halter & Trail, horse arena; rabbit show, rabbit barn; beef show, show barn.

– 10 a.m., dog showmanship, event center.

– noon to 9 p.m., 4-H exhibits open, Shrine building.

– 4 p.m., goat dairy show, goat barn.

– 6 p.m., horse and pony show contesting, horse arena.

• Tuesday

– 8 a.m., poultry, pigeon and waterfowl show, poultry barn.

– 8:30 a.m., swine show, show barn.

– 9 a.m., horse and pony show Western Pleasure & Miniature Horse Contesting, horse arena; llama show, llama tent.

– 6 p.m., horse and pony contesting/versatility, horse arena.

– 7 p.m., dairy master showmanship & Skill-a-Thon, show barn.

• Wednesday

– 8 a.m., dairy calf feeder steer show, show barn; beginning with dairy steer, show barn; CFFS Crossbred Feeder Steer Show, show barn.

– 9 a.m., horse and pony English Halter, Pleasure, Jumping & Contesting, horse arena; llama show, llama tent.

– 3 p.m., possibilities showcase, show barn.

– 4 p.m., sheep show, show barn.

– 6 p.m., horse and pony show Pleasure Versatility, horse arena.

• Thursday

– 9 a.m., horse and pony Pleasure & Contesting, horse arena; dairy show, beginning with Mini 4-H, show barn.

– 3 p.m., Supreme Showmanship, show barn. Afternoon show order: poultry, rabbits, goats, dairy calf feeder steer and dairy.

– 6:30 p.m., Supreme Showmanship, show barn. Horse and pony, swine, beef and sheep.

• Friday

– 10 a.m., Sale of Champions, show barn. Immediately following is the 4-H Livestock Auction.