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Summer is a special time.
The kids are out of school and having fun. Families across the U.S. are heading outdoors for new experiences as they take their yearly vacation.
The days are long, and the nights bring relief to the afternoon sun. It’s a time filled with fireworks, national holidays and more.
Sadly, all good things come to an end. And while Baxter County is still in the middle of its summer season, the hard-working folks over at the Baxter County Fair Board are preparing for the county’s annual August fair, which will run from Aug. 22 to Aug. 26.
“The pageant is coming up. That’ll be the first thing to kick off the fair,” said Brooke Grissum of the Baxter County Fair Board.
The Baxter County Fair Pageant and Baby Contest will be held at Mountain Home High School’s Dunbar Stadium on July 29. The fair’s baby contest will start at 2 p.m. and will roll into the pageant, which will start at 6 p.m.
All contestants must be residents of Baxter County and must register by the child’s legal name. Contestants must not be or have been, married or have children. There is no entry fee.
Reigning winners may not compete in the same category the following year. They may compete however if they are eligible to move up a category due to grade/age. However, they must choose to crown or compete.
Admission to Dunbar Auditorium is $5 for adults and students, and children five and under are free. Registration will be taken online only through Wednesday, July 26th, 2023.
Divisions for the pageant will be split up by age and gender, with the baby contest spanning ages 0-35 months. The pageant will be divided between boys and girls, with boys three to five competing. The girl’s division will range from ages three to 23.
Following the Baxter County Fair Pageant, the fair will host the county’s popular truck pull. The truck pull is currently scheduled to happen on August 19 at 7 p.m. The location for the event has not officially been set.
While the yearly truck pull is usually held at the Saddle Club Arena, the Baxter County Fair Board is currently in the process of building a new track for its own uses. If the track is finished in time for the truck pull, it will be used in lieu of the Saddle Club’s track.
Entry fees for those wishing to join in the truck pull will run $20. Admission to the truck pull will cost $10 adults and $5 for students. Children 10 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $15.
The fair’s lawn mower race is still expected to be held at the Saddle Club Arena on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. The Saddle Club arena will also be hosting a chainsaw contest at 4 p.m. on the same day. The cost of entry into the Saddle Club Arena will be $5.
Entry into the chainsaw competition will run $3 per class for competitors.
On Aug. 22, the Baxter County Fair will officially kick off with a day of free admissions. This year’s fair will be put on by PBJ Happy Day. Following the free day, the cost of entry to the fair will be $7 at the gate for everyone six and up. Children five and under will get in for free.
To help save costs, the Baxter County Fair will be offering armbands this year on Aug. 23 and 24. At a cost of $30 per person, the armband will allow each individual to ride the fair’s rides throughout the evening without purchasing tickets.
In addition to the rides, there will be various local vendors at this year’s fair. The fair’s parade will officially start on Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Line-up for the parade starts at 5:15. The parade will be led by this year’s pageant winners.
Lastly, the Baxter County Fair Board would like to remind the public to attend this year’s livestock show which will be taking place on the fairgrounds during the fair. The livestock show is a great way to support local farmers in Baxter County and Arkansas.
The livestock show will host at Parade of Champions on Aug. 26 at 1 p.m.
For those wishing to pre-register for the Baxter County Fair this year, please click this link. Sign-ups will end on July 31. Tickets to the Baxter County Fair are available at local businesses and banks throughout Mountain Home and Baxter County. Tickets will also be available through the county’s various school districts.
