The 2025 Douglas County Fair is saddling up, 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 26, 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 30
• 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 31: Family night
• 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 1
• 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2: Family day
• 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 2
According to the Douglas County Fair, “the carnival sets the pricing when they get to town!” The fair’s social media will be updated with costs once they are available.
When’s the demolition derby?
Outdoor arena gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 for the first night of the annual demolition derby, and the event will start at 7:30 p.m.
On the second night, gates will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.
Tickets are available online via Eventbrite or at the fair office starting at noon Wednesday, July 31. They cost $15 for one night or $25 for both nights, plus processing fees (for totals of $19.20 and $30.57, respectively) if purchased online.
A power wheels derby for 2- through 11-year-olds will take place during the main derby on both days.
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 30 through Saturday, Aug. 2.
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.
More events
Here are some of the other main events planned for the fair, according to the fair schedule.
• Tuesday, July 29, kicks off with a poultry show, and poultry showmanship and skill-a-thon, at 8 a.m. in the Open Pavilion.
Later at the Open Pavilion, the cornhole tournament will begin from 1 to 2 p.m. It will continue every day through Friday at the same time in the same place, until the championship match on Saturday (see times below).
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 North Dreher parking lot and music by Jack Dunker & Ellman Brothers from 7 to 10 p.m. in the stage area.
• Wednesday, July 30, the rabbit show starts at 8:30 a.m. and the swine show starts at 5 p.m., both in the Open Pavilion. The dairy cow show will take place in the community building at 11 a.m.
There will be a garden tractor pull hosted by Big Red Sled starting at 7 p.m. The Back-Atcha-Band 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, July 31, 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. A dairy goat milking content will take place at both 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
An antique tractor pull will 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. 1, a bucket calf show starting at 8:30 a.m. in the community building will be followed by a beef show.
The Lawrence Comics stand-up comedy team will give a show at 2 p.m. in the stage area. The adult showmanship and creative fitting contests will take place at 5 p.m. in the Open Pavilion.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. for the Douglas County Farm Bureau’s bale throwing contest, which starts at 6 p.m. Delta Haze will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. in the stage area. Friday is also the first night for the demolition derby (see info above).
• Saturday, Aug. 2, 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., followed by an ice cream social hosted by Frontier Farm Credit at 4 p.m. and livestock auction at 5:30 p.m., all in the Open Pavilion.
Savanna Chestnut will give a musical performance from 8 to 10 p.m. in the stage area.
Find more info about the fair and a complete schedule at dgcountyfair.com.
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