Antique tractor buffs will have a heyday at this year’s 152nd Annual Whiteside County Fair, which runs August 15-19, 2023. Display your Antique Tractor; each participant will receive a 152nd Whiteside County Fair plaque to display on their antique tractor. Exhibitors will fire up their engines for the Parade, about one hour before the start of that evening’s truck and tractor pulls at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 18. Anyone displaying their Antique Farm Tractor at the 2023 Whiteside County Fair will be required to purchase a Season Membership Pass, which will automatically enter them into the exhibition. Due to space constraints, the display will be limited to “restored or good original” tractors. The Fair also welcomes for display, hit-and-miss engines that are in working order. No garden tractors or implements are allowed, unless the implement is mounted to a tractor. Pre-registration is recommended by contacting Ron Shank at 815-772-7157.
All the information you need to get ready for the Fair is at your fingertips on our website at www.whitesidecountyfair.org. All exhibitors are urged to refer to the website for details on the requirements to enter the various competitions, which offer over $119,000 in premiums, purses and prizes. Entries/Premium information can also be downloaded from the fair website in the Premium section.
The Office of the Secretary and Treasurer are in the building near the grandstand at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds, in Morrison. They will sell reserved grandstand seating for the Demo Derby, season tickets, and Mega Passes. The Mega Pass an be purchased for $60 Monday, August 14. Once the Fair starts, Mega Pass price increases to $70 and will need to be purchased from the Carnival. This will let you ride any of the Wilson Family Rides when the Carnival is open during the 2023 Whiteside County Fair.
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 that are 6-11 years of age must purchase a $5 season ticket to enter in Junior departments. That ticket allows the exhibitor to enter items in any of the departments listed above, and it provides unlimited admission to the fairgrounds throughout the fair.
Livestock exhibitors are required to pay exhibit fees and should consult the website for details.
The fair officially starts at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 15, with the Pleasure Horse Show at the “River Valley Coop Arena” in the infield.