SerpApi.Org
People who have attended the Manistee County Fair in the past can expect to see many new changes this year, including many of the events taking place on the midway.
Manistee County Agricultural Society board member Mindy Sedelmaier said organizers have been working hard to add things they feel will appeal to people of all age groups.
“Something we have worked so hard on the last several months is bringing in more variety and more diverse (events),” said Sedelmaier. “We want something for every single person in the family.”
Every county fair has a carnival for people of all ages. This year, Family Fun Tyme Amusements is coming to the Manistee County Fair for the first time. Sedelmaier said they offer rides for both the kids and adults.
“We have been trying to get a new carnival for a few years with more rides,” said Sedelmaier. “They are bringing in a minimum of 12 rides with six for the younger kids and six for the older ones.”
Sedelmaier said to make the 155th anniversary of the fair special this year, there is a special price of $10 for rides all day. It’s all a part of the board’s efforts to draw in more people to the fair this year.
“Our hopes are to make it more affordable and have enough stuff free going on throughout the midway this year that families will come and spend the whole day, every day during the week,” said Sedelmaier. “It’s going to be a great time at very minimal cost to them.”
A big event will be the chuck wagon dinner at 5 p.m. on July 28 in the Lions building featuring barbecue pork, baked potatoes, baked beans, corn, coleslaw and Texas sheet cake. The dinner costs $20 for adults and $10 for children age 10 years and under.
“We also will have music there, featuring the country singing of DeWayne Spaw, starting at 6:30 p.m.,” said Sedelmaier.
The Magic Man, a magician, will perform at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. July 28-30.
“He is from the Wellston area, and that is something new to the fair, which is a free show to attend,” said Sedelmaier.
A foam party also will take place on the midway during the fair.
“We had what was the Foam Zone last year, but we purchased our own foam machine this year so we will do that every day at the fair,” said Sedelmaier. “It shoots all kinds of foam the kids can run through and it doesn’t burn their eyes, which is fun to play in.”
In addition, local celebrities will be taking turns in a dunk tank on the midway.
The midway area will be busy throughout the week with face painting with Sarah and Amber at the following dates and times:
- 4 p.m. July 28
- 3 p.m. July 29
- 3 p.m. July 30
- 5 p.m. July 31
- 2 p.m. on Aug. 1
“Sarah and Amber have volunteered their time to come in and do face painting every day during the fair,” said Sedelmaier.
People wanting to learn about Zumba exercise can do so with Amber Sedelmaier at 7 p.m. on July 29 and those looking to find out about tai chi can do so with Sally Mason at 9 a.m. on Aug. 1.
“Sally is going to do a tai chi session right under our big tent (that) we are going to have out this year,” said Sedelmaier.
She said one of the midway events expected to be very popular is the 2 p.m. July 29 fiber arts demonstration by Sally Manke.
“We are happy to have her as she is from the Arcadia area, but travels all over the country doing fiber arts,” said Sedelmaier. “She is going to do a demo for us, and I am super excited about her being here.”
There also will be some food-eating competitions. A doughnut eating contest will be held at 4:30 p.m. July 31 and a pie eating contest will take place at 4 p.m. on Aug. 1.
There also will be an area where the kids can play in some beach sand with buckets and shovels, as well as matchbox cars.
Fairgoers also can expect changes to the merchant building, which will become the marketplace.
“This year we will have artisan crafters going in there, as we are really trying to make it an art fair market this year,” said Sedelmaier. “We have a lot of vendors committed to those spaces, and we are super excited about it.”
Another event is a mini farmers market.
“We have been talking with Brian Garcia as it’s our hope to do a mini farmer’s market on Friday and Saturday as we are looking for farmers to set up their booths and do some sales at those times,” said Sedelmaier.
