BRAINERD — The event is back and better than ever with more animals, food trucks, attractions and entertainment.
The Crow Wing County Fair begins Tuesday, July 30th and runs through Saturday, August 3rd.
I’m looking forward to having a really good time as always.
Fair Treasurer Chris Ducimo
Fair Treasurer Chris Ducimo is ready to welcome the throngs of people who will stream through the gates in search of fried food, memorable music and engaging activities.
“The activity continues from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Ducimo said in a phone interview on Monday, July 22.
Signage at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds, photographed Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Kelly Humphrey/Brainerd Dispatch
New grandstand entertainment this year will include two monster truck shows scheduled for Tuesdays at 2 and 7 p.m.. Old favorites like the rodeo and Baja races will also return to the arena.
Grandstand tickets will not be sold online this year because the expense and hassle of doing so would be too great, Ducimo said, but tickets will be available at the administration building each day from noon to 4 p.m. to help ease long lines once the grandstands open.
Several new food vendors will be providing meals for fair-goers, including Pit Happens, Carolina Cakes and Sweets, Bad Habits Mini Donuts, Caribbean Fusion, The Hangry Hut, Jonny Food Truck, Travelin Toms Coffee Truck, Barajas Taco Trailer and Something Good Coffee.
Last year’s favorite foods should also return, Ducimo said.
New attractions this year include Ski’s Exotic Petting Zoo, Black Hole Mini Golf, tree chainsaw carving and Oh Far Cute Entertainment with face painting and glitter tattoos.
Those looking for animals are also in luck: This year’s fair has more animals registered than ever before.
“We had more rabbits, more chickens, more horses, more cows, more sheep, more goats,” Ducimo says. “I don’t know what happened, but all of a sudden the animal kingdom came to life.”
People enjoy rides and games at the midpoint of the Crow Wing County Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
Kelly Humphrey/Brainerd Dispatch
The beer garden was renovated this year, as was the memorial garden, which includes new sod, a new fence and six benches donated by American Steel honoring each branch of the military.
“We’re looking forward to having a really good time, as always,” Ducimo said, thanking all the volunteers helping out at the fair, including the American Legion, who will be helping with parking, and the beer garden volunteers.
“A lot of people have helped make the fair what it is,” he added.
Lenora Gino and Clayton Luhman spruce up the entrance building Thursday, July 26, 2024, at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds.
Kelly Humphrey/Brainerd Dispatch
This year’s Grandstand events include:
Tuesday, July 30th: Monster Truck Show at 2pm and 7pm. Wednesday, July 31st: Wojo Rodeo Group 1 Riders at 7pm. Thursday, August 1st: Wojo Rodeo Group 2 Riders at 7pm. Friday, August 2nd: Baja Rally at 7pm. Pit gates open at 4pm. Saturday, August 3rd: Baja Rally at 7pm. Pit gates open at 4pm.
For more information on the event or to view the 2024 Crow Wing County Fair books, visit crowwingcountyfair.com.
THERESA BOURKE can be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa
Theresa Burke began working at The Dispatch in July 2018 and covers Brainerd city government and education in the area, including Brainerd Public Schools and Central Lakes College.