Whiteside County Fair Secretary Mary Beth Dombroski announced that Fair offices will open Monday, August 5, 2013, for the week prior to opening day. The office will open Monday, August 13, and remain open through the end of the Fair Saturday, August 17. The Fair officially starts at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 13, with the Western Horse Show at the new “Gold Star F.S. Arena” in the infield.
The office of the Secretary and Treasurer are located in the building near the grandstand at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds, in Morrison, IL. They will open the week before the Fair from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, August 9. Saturday, August 10 hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. During this time they will be accepting hand-delivered entries, processing those received by mail, and selling reserved grandstand seating, season tickets, and Mega Passes.
MEGA PASS can be purchased for $45 Monday, August 5, through Monday, August 12. Tuesday, August 13, through Saturday, August 17, the price will be $50. You may ride any of the Wilson Family Rides when the Carnival is open during the Fair.
Reserve grandstand seating for Saturday night’s Demolition Derbies go on sale Monday, August 5, at 8:00 a.m. in the Secretary’s Office. Reserved seating is $5 per person, sold on a first-come, first-served basis. A limited number of seats are 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.
There are no entry fees for exhibits in the Departments of Agriculture, Floriculture, Horticulture, Textiles, Culinary, and Hobbies. However, adult exhibitors must purchase a $15 season membership ticket, and junior exhibitors who are under 11 years of age pay a $3 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 www.whitesidecountyfair.org for details.
All exhibitors are urged to refer to the Fair premium book or www.whitesidecountyfair.org for details on the requirements to enter the various competitions. This year offers over $115,500 in premiums, purses, and prizes. Books are available at banks in Whiteside County and will be available the week before the Fair at the Fair office. Premium book information can also be downloaded from 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 sell season membership tickets, which allows unlimited admission. An adult season membership ticket costs $15; a child’s weekly pass is $3. Tickets for both children and adults may be purchased at the gate during the Fair. Single adult daily admission is $7 for those 12 years and older, and $1 for children ages six through 11. Children five and under are free.
Bicycle Give Aways will be offered. Times will be posted in the Blue Building, where you sign up for the drawing.
Written inquires can be directed to the Whiteside County Fair, P.O. Box 88, Morrison, IL 61270.