Elkhart County 4-H Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elkhart County 4-H Fair |
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Elkhart County 4-H Fair Carnival
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| Begins | July 23, 2021 |
| Ends | July 31, 2021 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Goshen, Indiana |
| Years active | 1851–1916; 1919–41; 1946–2019; 2021– |
| Inaugurated | 1851 |
| Previous event | 18–26 July 2019 |
| Attendance | 202,560 (2017) |
| Budget | US$2,104,700 (2010) |
The Elkhart County 4-H Fair happens every year in Goshen, Indiana. It is one of the biggest county fairs in the entire country! In 2017, over 200,000 people visited the Fair. That's a lot of visitors for a 9-day event! The Elkhart County 4-H Fair is famous for its free shows and concerts at the grandstand. More than 4,000 young people from Elkhart County are part of 4-H. They show off about 8,000 projects at the Fair each year.
Contents
Fair History: A Look Back
The Elkhart County 4-H Fair began way back in 1851. It started in Goshen, Indiana, right on the courthouse square. The main idea was to help local farmers. They could learn about new farming methods. It was also a chance to show off their best crops and animals.
The fair took a short break during the American Civil War. After the war, the fair wanted to attract more people from cities. This helped the fair earn more money. In the early 1870s, many more people started coming. Baseball games, sideshows, and horse races became very popular. About 20 years later, the fair added a festival ride and a merry-go-round. This area became known as the fair's midway.
The fair was not held in 1917–18 because of World War I. It also paused from 1942–45 due to World War II. In 2020, the fair was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Elkhart County Fairgrounds: More Than Just a Fair
The Elkhart County Fairgrounds is a busy place all year. It hosts over 150 events when the Fair is not happening. The fairgrounds cover about 384 acres (1.55 km²). There are 70 buildings and over 300 permanent spots for RVs. There are also 600 temporary RV spots.
One of the most popular events at the fairgrounds is RV travel rallies. In 2017, 12 RV rallies were held there. In 2011, the fair bought an extra 253 acres (1.02 km²) of land. This new land is to the east of the current fairgrounds. Planners are thinking about using it for more parking, camping, or exhibit space.
The Elkhart County 4-H Fair is known as one of the best county fairs. Even when the fair is not on, the fairgrounds stay active. They host RV Rallies and the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale. It is also a public campground all year long.
Elkhart County 4-H Fair Week: What to See and Do!
The Elkhart County 4-H Fair is packed with fun events. Here's a look at what happens each day.
Fair Attendance Over the Years
Here's how many people visited the fair in different years:
- 2009: 258,832
- 2010: 255,315
- 2011: 235,495
- 2012: 244,883
- 2013: 280,175
- 2014: 269,064
- 2015: 255,253
- 2016: 183,000
- 2017: 202,560
Grandstand Events: Daily Fun at the Fair
- Friday (First Day): The fair officially starts with a ribbon cutting. In the afternoon, local schools compete in a cheerleading contest. Later, the Senior Queen Contest is held on the Main Stage. The evening ends with the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Queen Contest. About 50 young women compete for the title.
- Saturday: Harness racing takes place in the early afternoon. The evening ends with a concert by a popular singer or band.
- Sunday (Family Day): No admission fee is charged on this day! The famous Elkhart County 4-H Fair Parade marches past the grandstands. Hundreds of runners compete in the "parade 5000" race. In the evening, a popular Christian music group performs at the grandstands.
- Monday: More Harness racing fills most of the day. The day finishes with another concert by a popular artist.
- Tuesday (Senior Citizens Day): Harness racing continues for most of the day. The evening ends with another concert.
- Wednesday (Kid's Day): The grandstands are quiet until the evening. Then, another popular music group performs.
- Thursday: Tractor pulls happen all day long. Different types of tractors compete, including antique tractors.
- Friday: A Rodeo takes place all day. There's a second rodeo in the evening. Between the two rodeos, a horse pulling contest happens.
- Saturday (Last Day): The fair ends with a bang! A classic car cruise-in happens during the day. The exciting Demolition Derby wraps up the fair week.
About 600 people volunteer their time for the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. The entire fair board is made of volunteers. Sometimes, volunteers even take a week off from their jobs to help out!
Upcoming Fair Dates
- July 23–31, 2021
- July 22–30, 2022
