East Perry Community Fair begins Friday

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- The East Perry Community Fair in Altenburg kicks off Friday with an afternoon parade, and this year the self-dubbed "best little fair in the land" is featuring new food offerings and a new performer.

In addition to the typical fair food of funnel cakes and corn dogs, the East Perry fair is known for offering selections such as whole fish sandwiches, cheese sandwiches and fried pork chops. Fair treasurer Fred Eggers said this year frozen custard, rib-eye sandwiches and Ruebens will also be available at concession stands.

This year's musical lineup will include a fair newcomer. Local country rock band Uncle Pearl will take the stage Friday night, while traditional favorites Reminisce, Saxony Hills Community Band and the Jackson Municipal Band are featured Saturday. Eggers said fair organizers work hard to provide different types of music to suit a variety of tastes.

In addition to a few new features, fair favorites are also on this year's schedule.

One of the fair's perennial crowd pleasers, mule jumping, attracts some of the fair's largest crowds. Eggers said the animals are smart and love to jump.

"We have about 40 entries. That is similar to last year," he said.

Eggers said until recently mule jumping was the fair's most popular attraction, but the four-wheel-drive truck pull scheduled for Saturday is now drawing bigger audiences.

"It is attracting the largest crowds. It is a different crowd, younger. That is good for business," he said.

Eggers said the fair continues to attract a high number of entries in all of its livestock entries.

"We are over 200 in beef cattle. Sheep and goats are full. Poultry is full. There is a good number and a good variety of animals," he said.

He said the Mid-South Fair in Memphis, Tenn., no longer has livestock competitions and he thinks that's why the past two years have seen so many entries at the East Perry fair, particularly among beef cattle.

Eggers thinks what separates this fair from others in the area is the fact it is free.

"There is no charge for parking. There is no admission fee and there is no charge for entertainment," he said.

Because there is no admission charge, it is difficult to estimate the number of people that attend the two-day event, but schools and government offices close so students and employees can attend.

"It is really a big family gathering. It's like a homecoming. People come back home to visit and make sure they hit the fair," Eggers said.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Schedule of events

Friday

• 8 a.m.: Judging of poultry and small animals
• 10 a.m.: Judging of hall exhibits
• 1:30 p.m.: Parade
• 2:30 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
• 3 p.m.: Pedal tractor pull
• 4 p.m.: Barrow weigh-in
• 5 p.m.: Antique tractor pull
• 6:30 p.m.: Music by Uncle Pearl

Saturday

• 8:30 a.m.: Judging of sheep and goats
• 9 a.m.: 4-H and FFA steer show, River Hills Run
• 9:30 a.m.: 4-H Horsemanship show
• 10 a.m.: Judging of beef cattle
• 10:30 a.m.: Dairy cattle show
• 11 a.m.: Judging of draft horses and mules, saddle horse show, judging of 4-H and FFA barrows
• Noon: Music by Saxony Hills Community Band
• 2 p.m.: Music by Reminisce
• 3:30 p.m.: 4-H and FFA sale
• 5:30 p.m.: Jumping mules competition
• 6 p.m.: Music by Jackson Municipal Band
• 8 p.m.: 4X4 truck pull
• 8:30 p.m.: Attendance prizes

Pertinent address:

200 Church Street, Altenburg, MO