The 2025 Vinland Fair is gearing up for another year of tractor pulls, nail-driving contests and homemade pie, all in the name of celebrating small-town life.
Events will run Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 7-9 at 1736 North 700 Road in Baldwin City. Admission to the fair is free.
Looking for info on the Douglas County Fair? Check this link.
Fair food
Homemade pie is an annual highlight of the Vinland Fair experience. Single slices — with flavors such as chocolate pecan, strawberry rhubarb, pumpkin and more — cost $3, or attendees can purchase a full pie.
The fair team is welcoming community volunteers to bring more pies that don’t need refrigeration. People can drop off pies without a cream base any morning of the festivities.
There will be unique menus featuring many homemade items each day of the fair, including burgers, BBQ meals, loaded nachos and more. See the full food schedule here.
Cold treats churned onsite will be available for purchase following Saturday’s ice cream competition, with 2 scoops costing $1.
Daily events
Here is a rundown of daily events, according to the fair schedule.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Festivities kick off at noon, with scarecrow building plus the antique quilt and apron show running all day.
The old time and modern farm skills competition takes place at 2 p.m., with feats of nail-driving, corn shelling and bale tossing from adult and children contestants. Fairgoers may also flaunt skills at the talent show beginning at 6 p.m. Entries must be made by 2 p.m.
The poultry show will start at 6:30 p.m., with the rabbit show to follow at 7 p.m.
Also at 7 p.m., the Baldwin High School band will perform next to the main stage before the headliner, Alferd Packer Memorial String Band, takes the spotlight at 7:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for all three nights of live performances.
Friday, Aug. 8
The second day of events will get rolling with a stock bicycle race at 10 a.m. Age categories for the competition span from 5 and below to 18 to 81. Foot and sack races, as well as tug-of-war, will immediately follow.
The first round of tractor pulling will gear up at 4 p.m. with off-farm and antique tractors on display.
Friday evening’s main stage music feature is The BoDells, who will perform at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 9
Children under 12 can put their reptiles to the test in the 11 a.m. box turtle race followed by the pet parade. The parade can include real and toy animals, with categories like “Most Unusual Pet” and “Prettiest Kitten in a Basket.”
Judges will evaluate livestock, including beef, dairy, sheep, swine and goat entries, at 1 p.m. The livestock show has 4-H and open categories.
Saturday marks the second day of tractor pulls, with the children’s pedal tractor pull started at 2:30 p.m. Big Red Sled Garden Tractor Pulling will host the lawn tractor event at 5 p.m.
A homemade ice cream contest will be judged at 7 p.m., before festival attendees cool off by purchasing scoops of the frozen treat entires at 7:30 p.m. The last live music performance will also begin at 7:30 p.m., featuring Double Take.
Find more info about the fair and a complete schedule at vinlandfair.com.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
