The 2024 Douglas County Fair is getting underway, with the carnival, demolition derby and more set to return to Lawrence next week.
Events will be at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. in Lawrence.
This weekend, the Open Horse Show is set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 27, and the 4-H Horse Show starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, both at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Community Building. The bulk of the fair events kick off next week.
When is the carnival?
Hours for Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival will be as follows:
• 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 31
• 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1: Family night
• 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 2
• 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3: Family day
• 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 3
Armband prices were not included with the online fair schedule, but they’ve gone for $30 and $35 in other communities recently, according to the carnival’s Facebook page.
When’s the demolition derby?
Outdoor arena gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 for the first night of the annual demolition derby, and the event will start at 8:30 p.m.
On the second night, gates will open at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3.
Tickets are available online via Eventbrite or starting at noon Wednesday, July 31. They cost $15 for one night or $25 for both.
When’s the petting zoo open? And when can I ride a pony?
Hours to visit fuzzy and feathered friends will be 1 to 9 p.m. each day from Wednesday, July 31 through Saturday, Aug. 3 in Building 8.
Pony rides will be available from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Hours expand to 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, also at Building 8.
More events
Here are some of the other main events planned for the fair.
Tuesday, July 30, the cornhole tournament will begin from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Open Pavilion. It will continue each day at the same time in the same place, according to the fair schedule.
There will be a food sale from 3 to 6 p.m. in Building 21, a “Touch a Truck” event from 6 to 8 p.m. in the arena and music by Small Town Grit from 7 to 10 p.m. in the stage area.
Wednesday, July 31, the rabbit show starts at 8:30 a.m. and the swine show starts at 5 p.m., both in the Open Pavilion. There will be a garden tractor pull hosted by Big Red Sled starting at 7 p.m. in the outdoor arena. Delta Haze will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. in the stage area. Wednesday is also the first night for the carnival (see hours above).
Thursday, Aug. 1, the llama and alpaca show will start at 9 a.m., and the sheep show will start at 6 p.m., both in the Open Pavilion. An antique tractor pull will also start at 6 p.m. in the outdoor arena. Big Rick Soul Band will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. in the stage area.
Friday, Aug. 2, registration begins at 5:30 p.m. for the Douglas County Farm Bureau’s bale throwing contest, which starts at 6 p.m. Scott Heidner & the Nashville Guys will perform starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3, registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. for the farm bureau’s pedal tractor pull, and the event starts at 10:30 a.m. The turtle race starts at 10 a.m. on the blacktop. Barnyard olympics start at 11 a.m.
The cornhole tournament championship is set for noon in the Open Pavilion. The fair will celebrate 4-H award winners at 3 p.m., and there will be an ice cream social at 4 p.m., also in the Open Pavilion.
Silent Ave will perform from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the stage area, and Scott Heidner & the Nashville Guys will take the stage again at 8 p.m.
Find more info about the fair and a complete schedule at dgcountyfair.com.
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