The Fair office of the Secretary and Treasurer will open for business beginning Monday, August 5, 2024, for the entire week prior to the 153rd annual Whiteside County Fair, which kicks off Tuesday, August 13. All the information you need to get ready for the Fair is at your fingertips on our website: www.whitesidecountyfair.org. Written inquires can be directed to the Whiteside County Fair, P.O. Box 88, Morrison, IL 61270.
The offices are in the building near the grandstand at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds, in Morrison, IL. Hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday, August 5- through-Friday, August 9; Saturday, August 10, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. During these times, staff will accept hand-delivered entries; process mailed entries; sell reserved grandstand seating for the Demo Derby, Season Membership Tickets, and Mega Passes.
A SEASON MEMBERSHIP TICKET allows the ticket-holder unlimited admission to the fair. An Adult season membership ticket costs $25, while a Child’s weekly pass is $5. Tickets for both children and adults may also be purchased at the gate during the fair. Single Adult daily admission for the fair is $10 for those age 12 year and older, and $2 for children ages six-through-11. Children five and under are admitted free.
A MEGA PASS wristband will let people ride any of the Wilson Family Rides during the Fair. Purchase a Mega Pass early for $60, from Monday, August 5-through-Monday, August 12. Once the Fair starts, the Mega Pass price increases to $70 and must be purchased from the Carnival.
Reserved grandstand seating for Saturday night’s DEMOLITION DERBY will go on sale Monday, August 5, at 8:00 a.m. in the Secretary’s Office for $10 per person. The Demo Derby is the only show that has reserved seating available. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with a limited number of seats available. Reserved seating may be purchased online beginning Tuesday, August 6, at Eventbrite.com. 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 the $25 season membership ticket; Junior exhibitors 6-11 years of age must purchase a $5 season ticket. 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 the website for details.
Exhibitors are urged to refer to the website for details on requirements to enter competitions, which this year offer over $119,000 in premiums, purses, and prizes. Entries/Premium 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 on the website. Entries close Saturday, August 10.
The fair officially starts at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 13, with the Pleasure Horse Show at the “Alternative Ag Services Arena” in the infield.