Heroes will be celebrated at the Kosciusko County Community Fair this summer, and with tickets for all the concerts going on sale May 18, now is the time to start planning. “It’s going to be a busy, busy week, but a fun week,” Mike Loher, fair board president, promised. The concert tickets go on sale at the fair office at the fairgrounds at 8 a.m. May 18. Loher said there may be an “incentive” for the first person in line. Tickets then go on sale online at kcfair.org at 10 a.m. In addition to the concerts, the 97th annual opening ceremonies starts at 6:30 p.m. July 8 with “A Salute to Heroes” program. “We want to invite the community to send a picture of their hero, whoever that is. It needs to be a non-returnable photo with the name to be included in the heroes slideshow,” Loher said. Photos can be dropped off at the fair office, or e-mailed to info@kcfair.org Loher said pictures should be dropped off by the first week of June. During the program, Amy Marshall will sing the National Anthem. Gordy Clemens will perform, and the National Guard will present the colors. As part of the “Salute to Heroes,” Loher said there will be a tribute to John Anglin “because he’s a hero to most everyone here at the fairgrounds.” Mike Beezley, United Methodist Church of Clunette pastor, will be part of the tribute to Anglin, Loher indicated. Anglin was president of Kosciusko REMC and the Clunette Elevator, and his dad was the president of the fair board at one time, Loher noted. Loher said Gary Eisenhower, nephew of former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, has been confirmed to speak during the “Heroes” program. Eisenhower is known for his charity work for veterans, and he will speak on the subject of heroes. Susie McEntire, sister of country music legend Reba McEntire, takes the stage after the program at 8 p.m. Seats in the grandstand are free, but donations will be accepted. Reserve track seats are $15. “It’s a free event and open to the public. We want to see a big crowd there for the ‘Salute to Heroes.’ There will be a military, police and firefighters presence. We want everyone to be a part of it – teachers, doctors, nurses, everyone,” Loher stated. Fireworks over Winona Lake will be July 5. Loher said the grandstand will be open for free for the fireworks. But all the fun at the fair begins July 7, which is “Free Day.” The 13th annual fair parade from Winona Avenue to the fairgrounds starts at 4 p.m. July 7, as does The Demolition Derby in the Shaun “Shaggy” Owens Memorial Grandstands. Tickets for the Demolition are $10 adults, $5 children 12 and under, with pit passes at $15. Entry deadline for the parade is noon July 5. Pre-registration entries for the Demolition Derby are due by June 1. At noon July 7, there will be a rededication of the 4-H Memorial Garden. Loher said the garden honors all 4-H members who passed away. This year marks its 20th year. Then at 1 p.m. July 7, the show arena will be renamed and dedicated as the John Anglin Memorial Show Arena. Award-winning country group Love And Theft perform July 9. Opening act of the 8 p.m. show will be “American Idol” contestant Casey James. Grandstand seats are $10, and reserved track seats are $20. If rock is what one craves, Pop Evil is the headlining act July 10. CODA is the opening performers for the 8 p.m. show. Grandstand seats are $10, and reserved track is $20. The track seats are general admission. U.S. National Freestyle Motocross Championship Series comes to the grandstand July 11. The grandstand opens at 7 p.m., with the daredevil show starting at 8 p.m. Adults are $10, children 6-12 years are $6 and children under 5 are free. Prefer bigger vehicles? At 7 p.m. July 12, the truck and tractor pull takes place. General admission tickets are $10 adults, $6 children 6-12 and free for those under 5 years old. Pit passes are $25 for the truck and tractor pull July 12 or the Show & Shine July 13. The Show & Shine features even larger vehicles. Registration for the Show & Shine is 7 a.m. to noon. After dark in front of the grand stand will be the “Parade of Lights.” A beer tent will be available July 12-13. Loher also noted some free entertainment on the grounds. July 9-13 in the Shrine Building parking lot, The Galaxy Girl and the Cyber Cycle will keep spectators staring up. She does stunts more than 100 feet in the air. In the event center area July 11-13, there will be a free interactive firefighters show. As is tradition, there will be a Miss Kosciusko County Pageant, with the winner receiving a scholarship for college. The winner also goes on to compete at the state level. The children’s pageants will include the Toddler Miss & Mister for 2-year-olds; Miss & Mister Preschool, 3-4-year-olds; Little Miss & Mister, 5-8-year-olds; Junior Miss & Mister, 9-12-year-olds; and Miss Teen, 13-15-year-olds. Toddler, Preschool and Little Divisions will be held June 15, with the first pageant having a 10:30 a.m. registration and an 11 a.m. start time. Junior and Teen Divisions will be June 15, with the first pageant having a 5:30 p.m. registration and a 6 p.m. start time. All will be at the Shrine Building at the fairgrounds. For more information on the children’s pageants, contact the fair office at 574-269-1823. That’s just some of the many activities planned for the 2013 fair, according to Loher. The 100th anniversary of the Kosciusko County Community Fair will be celebrated in 2016. Loher said a fund has been set up at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation specifically for the 100th celebration.
