Best Little Fair Coming Soon

The "Best Little Fair in the Land" in Altenburg prides itself as being a traditional agricultural fair with free admission, free parking, and a big selection of free entertainment. While the fair is centered on competition judging, there is a lot to see and do in a family friendly environment at the East Perry Community Fair which will be held on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26. In addition to the multiple departments of competition there will be a big array of commercial booths exhibiting products and services for the farm and home, games and rides for children, and food and drinks of all kinds.

The biggest change for the fair this year is moving the 4X4 Truck Pull to 7:00 pm on Friday evening from Saturday and moving the Antique Tractor Pull to 7:00 pm on Saturday evening following the Mule Jumping Competition. This change was made to cut down on the congestion for the crowd and for parking which was caused by having our two biggest events back-to-back on the schedule. There are also changes in the musical entertainment. The Pearl River Band will perform on Friday evening, Steve Kirn, a one-man acoustic and electric rock band, will be on stage at Noon on Saturday, and the Jackson Municipal Band will entertain the crowd on Saturday evening. The fair tradition begins with a parade at 1:30 pm on Friday followed by the opening ceremonies.

The Perry County Sheriff's Department will be controlling and directing traffic on Main Street (Highway A) during the fair to improve traffic flow. Fairgoers are reminded to follow the directions of the traffic officers and parking staff and abiding by the one-way directional signs. All livestock trucks and trailers and pull trucks and tractors must enter the fairgrounds by Maple Street and Fair Road. All other traffic must enter the parking areas by way of Poplar Street unless otherwise directed by the parking staff. The backup of traffic is primarily before the parade, the truck pull, and the mule jumping competition. The fair recommends that fairgoers plan to arrive early for these events to reduce their waiting times. This will give them an opportunity to enjoy some of the great food that the fair and its outside vendors have available. There are seventeen food stands which provide a great variety from the traditional hamburger, fish, and cheese sandwiches to newer choices like corn on the cob, turkey legs, and toasted barbecue.

On Saturday, the emphasis will be on livestock judging including one of the ten largest beef cattle shows in Missouri at 10:00 am in the Peoples Bank Show Barn and a large draft horse and mule show including hitch classes also beginning at 10:00 am. At 4:30 pm the ever popular "World Championship" mule jumping will take place. The final scheduled event for the fair at 8:30 pm on Saturday will be the awarding of attendance prizes which has been a tradition at the fair for around sixty years.

For additional information visit the fair's new website www.eastperryfair.com or its Facebook page. If you have questions prior to or during the fair, please call 573-824-5322.