Whiteside County Fair Secretary, Mary Beth Dombroski, has announced that the fair office will be open for business for the entire week prior to the 146th Annual Whiteside County Fair, which kicks off Tuesday, August 16, 2016.
The office of the Secretary and Treasurer are located in the building near the grandstand at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds, in Morrison, IL. It will be open the week before the fair from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday, August 8, through Friday, August 12. Saturday, August 13, the hours will be 8:00 a.m. to noon. During this time they will be accepting hand delivered entries and processing those received by mail, and selling reserved grandstand seating for the Demo Derby, season tickets, and Mega Passes.
Mega Passes can be purchased for $50 Monday, August 8, through Monday, August 15. Once the Fair starts, Mega Pass price increases to $60 and need to be purchased from the Carnival. This pass will let you ride any of the Wilson Family Rides when the Carnival is open.
Reserve grandstand seating for Saturday night’s Demolition Derby will go on sale Monday, August 8, at 8:00 a.m. in the Secretary’s Office for $8. The Demo Derby is the only show that has reserved seating available.
There are no entry fees for exhibits in the Departments of Agriculture, Floriculture, Horticulture, Textiles, Culinary, and Hobbies. However, adult exhibitors must purchase the $18 season membership ticket. Junior exhibitors that are 11 years of age and under must purchase the $5 season ticket to enter in junior departments. That ticket allows the exhibitor to enter items in any of the departments listed above and provides unlimited admission to the fairgrounds throughout the fair’s five-day run.
Livestock exhibitors are required to pay exhibit fees and should consult this year’s fair book or website for details.
All exhibitors are urged to refer to the Fair Premium Book or website for details on the requirements to enter the various competitions, which this year offer over $119,000 in premiums, purses, and prizes. Fair Books are available at banks throughout Whiteside County and will be available the week before the fair at the fair office. Premium book information can also be downloaded from the fair website at www.whitesidecountyfair.org in the premium section.
Entries must be done online or in writing, with the applicable fees submitted by the appropriate deadlines, as listed in the Fair Book.
The office will accommodate those wishing to buy Season Membership Tickets, which allow unlimited admission to the fair. An adult season ticket costs $18; a child’s weekly pass is $5. Tickets for both children and adults may be purchased at the gate during the fair. Single adult daily admission is $8 for those 12 years and older and $2 for children ages six through 11. Children five and under are free.
Those wishing to reserve grandstand seating for Saturday night’s Demolition Derby may do so during the week prior to the fair at the office. Reserved seating is $8 per person. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with a limited number of seats available. Saving seats by using blankets, etc., for general seating is not allowed. Any items used for saving seats will be removed by the fair staff.
Bicycle Give Away remains a popular feature of the fair. Times will be posted in the Blue Building where you sign up for the daily drawing.
The fair officially starts at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 16, with the Western Horse Show at the “Gold Star F. S. Arena” in the infield.
All the information you need to get ready for the Fair is at your fingertips on our website at www.whitesidecountyfair.org. Written inquires can be directed to Whiteside County Fair, P. O. Box 88, Morrison, IL 61270.