SEMO District Fair begins Saturday, has new midway ride, traveling deer exhibit

Some will come for the rides, others will come for the deep-fried foods, and in all about 100,000 people are expected to come to the 155th annual SEMO District Fair starting Saturday.

"Last year we had about 103,000, and I would expect we'll do about the same," said Pete Poe, president of the SEMO District Fair Association.

A ride called Vertigo will be the highlight of the midway this year, Poe said.

"It's a brand-new ride on the market. It goes up and around and holds 20 people in it," Poe said.

Making a stop for the first time at the fair is a traveling collection of more than 20 mounted whitetail deer with unusual antler configurations called "Wild Whitetails." Admission to the exhibit inside an enclosed 38-foot trailer is $1. "Wild Whitetails" is based in Dilworth, Minn.

Also new this year is the Kenny Ahern Family Variety Playhouse with free interactive children's shows three times daily during the eight day fair. Ahern has been a faculty member with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and has performed around the world for the past 20 years.

"We're a family event. We need to have something for all ages," Poe said. "We have a very nominal gate charge, and in return for that we provide quite a few free events and exhibits."

Gate admission is $4, and weekly passes are available for $25. Children younger than 12 get in free.

Other free activities at the fair include the antique tractor pull to kick off the fair at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the grandstand; games and music in the activities tent; Woody's Menagerie & Wildlife Exposition, which includes a petting zoo and exotic wildlife displays; the horse show at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the grandstand; the Draft Horse Challenge at 2 p.m. Sunday at the North Fairgrounds; and the Heartland Idol finals Wednesday in the grandstand.

Another favorite free family activity is viewing the livestock on display at the fair, Poe said. About 1,200 large animals and another 1,000 small animals, including poultry, rabbits and guinea pigs, will be on the fairgrounds. Beginning last year, animals are now on display all eight days of the fair, Poe said. Taking part in the livestock competitions are students with the 4-H and FFA programs. There is also an open class where anybody in the 27 counties that make up the fair district can compete.

This year's musical lineup is Merle Haggard, Bryan White and the John D. Hale Band. Other grandstand events include truck and tractor pulls and a demolition derby.

Along with providing entertainment, the fair also brings an economic benefit to the city, attracting people from a 75-mile radius, Poe said.

"We haven't done a good job telling that part of the story," Poe said. "A portion of it leaves town when the midway and some of the concessionaires leave, but we have several local vendors, and that money stays right here locally."

Local vendors at the fair include church and civic groups that use the proceeds earned at the fair for scholarship funds and to generate income for local teen programs, Poe said.

For a fair schedule, visit www.semoevents.com.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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