Lawrence Co. Fair goes back to roots

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Lawrence County Fair is getting back to its roots this year, with an old-fashioned focus on family fun and gospel music.

There won’t be a country-western headliner as in previous years, said Laura Dougherty, the fair’s public-relations representative, because those acts didn’t draw in the hoped-for crowds.

But there will still be plenty to do and see, she said — with a big focus on activities for children. The fair begins Monday and continues through Saturday at the county fairgrounds, which are on Pa. Route 108 east of New Castle and across from the Laurel Area High School.

Admission is $6 Monday through Friday before 2 p.m.; $8 after 2 p.m.; and $8 all day Saturday. The price includes rides.

Back this year are favorites such as the Tom Walker Family of New Castle. The southern gospel group will join The Down East Boys and Soul’d Out Quartet, new this year, for gospel night Friday at the Grandstand, beginning at 7 p.m.

Other acts that will appear through the week include The Shrocks and The Fairground Gang. They’ll perform Monday at the Grandstand during bluegrass night, beginning at 7 p.m. The Sleepin’ Dogz, new this year, will play classic rock and blues Tuesday during Bike Night at the Pavilion. It begins at 5 p.m. The Brigadoon Highlanders, a bagpipe and drum corps, will perform at 8 p.m. at the Community Building.

On Wednesday, the Dorals will entertain during the Car Cruise at the Pavilion, also beginning at 5 p.m.

The Whalen Family, a gospel group from Enon Valley, will perform Thursday.

And Saturday features “Newgrass” of the Red Mountain Boys at 7 p.m. at the Community Building.

Events this year, all at the Grandstand, also include stock tractor and street legal 4x4 truck pulls at 7 p.m. Tuesday; a figure-eight race and compact-car demo derby at 7 p.m. Wednesday; an A.T.P.A. Truck Pull at 7 p.m. Thursday; and a demolition derby at 7 p.m. Saturday.

For kids, there will be something to do each day.

Dress your baby up as fair food is Tuesday. Favorite Fair Food dress-up is at 11 a.m. at the Community Building for children up to 24 months old.

On Wednesday, kids from 2 to 7 can dress as “book characters” at the Community Building at 11 a.m. Bike races will be at 9 a.m. for all ages at the Grandstand.

Unusual Pets will be showcased for kids 6 to 12 at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Community Building. Also Thursday will be Pedal Power Pull at the Grandstand at noon for kids 3 to 8, and a talent contest for kids 5 to 14 at the Pavilion. A ventriloquist will perform at the Pavilion, and the Farm Olympics will take place there at 4 p.m. for all ages.

There will be bus service to the fair from the Transfer Center on Croton Avenue in downtown New Castle, $1 each way. People 65 and older ride free.

The pickup schedule is noon, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m.

The return schedule is 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.

The Lawrence County Fair begins this week at the fairgrounds on Route 108 across from Laurel High School. It begins Monday and continues through Saturday. Grandstand events are an extra charge. Grandstand prices are $3 Monday through Wednesday; $7 for ages 7 and up and $4 for ages 6 and under Thursday; $5 for all ages Friday; and $7 for ages 7 and up, $4 for ages 6 and under Saturday.

Schedule of events

Monday, Grange Day

1-4 p.m.: Ident-a-kid and Vial of Life at the Community Building.

1-4:30 p.m.: Games with prizes and crafts, Community Building.

7 p.m.: Recognition of Grange Youth, Community Bldg. After recognition, Kathy’s Celtic Dangers, Juggling Inferno from Wilmington High School; Bluegrass entertainment, Grandstand.

Tuesday

11 a.m.: Ages to 24 months, dress as Favorite Fair Food at the Community Building.

5 p.m.: Bike Nite and the Pavilion. Admission is $5 per bike.

6-9 p.m.: Sleepin Dogz, Pavilion.

6:30 p.m.: Shenango High School Band, midway.

6:30-8:30 p.m.: Lawrence County Community Band, Community Building.

7 p.m.: Stock tractor and street legal 4x4 pulls, Grandstand.

8-9 p.m.: The Brigadoon Highlanders, Community Building.

Wednesday

9 a.m.: Children’s bike races and safety, Grandstand.

11 a.m.: Dress as book characters for children 2 to 7 at the Community Building.

5 p.m.: Car cruise, Pavilion, $5 per car with two people.

6-9 p.m.: The Dorals, Pavilion.

7 p.m.: Wilmington High School Band, midway; horseshoe contest, horseshoe pit behind Community Building; figure 8 race, compact car demo derby, Grandstand.

7:30 p.m.: Worship, Community Building.

8 p.m.: Calf dress-up and cheese auction, Livestock Auction Barn.

Thursday

11 a.m.: Unusual Pet, Community Building.

Noon, Pedal Power Pull, Grandstand.

1 p.m.: Golden Hills Bell Ensemble, Pavilion.

2-2:30, 3:30-4, 5:50-6 p.m.: Helen Hammett, ventriloquist, Pavilion.

2:30 p.m.: Talent contest, ages 5-14, Pavilion.

4 p.m.: Farm Olympics, Pavilion.

6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: DJ Freddie Fresh, Pavilion.

7-8 p.m.: Whalen Family, Community Building.

7 p.m.: A.T.P.A. Truck Pull, Grandstand.

8 p.m.: master showmanship at Livestock Auction Barn.

8-9 p.m.: The Lighthouse Baptist Singers, Community Building.

Friday

1-1:25, 4-4:25, 5-5:25 p.m.: Jacko the Clown, Community Building.

6 and 7 p.m.: Castle Country Cloggers, Community Building.

6:30 and 7:30 p.m.: Castle Paws and Taws, Community Building.

6:30 p.m.: Gospel Night, Grandstand.

Saturday

9 a.m.: Farmstock and antique tractor pulls, Grandstand; 4-H Horse show, Horse Show Arena.

10 a.m.: Junior Livestock Auction, Livestock Auction Barn.

5-6 p.m.: Karen Elder & The Traveling Shoes, Community Building. 7 p.m.: Demolition derby, Grandstand.

7-10 p.m.: Red Mountain Boys, Community Bldg.

10:30 p.m.: Fireworks.

Source: Fair organizers