Boundary County Fair celebrates centennial

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County Fair Board members said they are excited to celebrate its 100th year of fair next week.

“We are looking forward to a fun and eventful week on Aug. 12-15,” board members said in a press release. “There will be a few changes to how things happen, but it will still be the fair you all love and enjoy. We have spoken with Panhandle Health [District] and shared our plans for sanitation and to help all fairgoers enjoy their time with us.”

To ensure everyone is safe while enjoying the fair, there will be plenty of handwashing stations throughout the fairgrounds and hand sanitizer at each entrance/exit; masks will be available for those who would like to use one. In addition, food booths and vendors will be taking extra precautions also in working with the public.

“We encourage everyone to come to the fair office before check-in day and pick up entry forms and tags to make for quicker check-in,” board members said.

Check-in will take place outside under the shade awning on the memorial lawn, where all paperwork will be completed before taking entries into the correct department. All photography and art entries MUST come mounted and ready to be hung. There will not be an indoor space for this preparation to happen, fair officials said.

A few changes to the schedule are as follows:

• Free concert on Thursday, Aug. 13, starting at 7 p.m. featuring Christy Lee and Marshall Catch will take place on the Parks and Rec soccer field. Families and individuals wishing to attend the concert should bring their lawn chairs or blankets and spread out to enjoy the entertainment for the evening. “Leave plenty of space for those who want to get up and move to the music,” officials said.

• Unfortunately, the lumberjack show will not be able to be here this year. However, the fair will have a refurbished sawmill coming that will be demonstrating throughout the week, along with a magician and other musical acts.

• The Market Animal committee has planned to be broadcasting the auction on two screens outside the arena for everyone to watch. Due to the current health concerns, they are asking for bidders only to enter the arena.

“Families and friends can watch the auction online via Boundary County Live from their homes, mobile devices, or on one of the big screens we will have set up,” officials said. “Bidding will only take place in the arena; there will be no online bidding.”

• Saturday, the fair is stilling planning to hold its parade and games. Officials have replaced the seed spitting and watermelon eating contest with a water balloon toss and limbo. Local residents who have any zucchini in their gardens should bring them down to compete in the zucchini track races.

Fair officials said they have expanded parking and added additional handicap and senior spots. In addition, there will be overflow public parking on the southwest side of the field near the mill site. Look for signs directing you to this. For our fair exhibitors’ safety, we will be closing the road between the indoor arena and the horse barn starting Wednesday, Aug. 12, to Saturday, Aug. 15. If you have livestock at the fair, please contact either the fair office or the extension office regarding parking; they have set aside a place for you.

The Fair Board would like to invite all to attend opening ceremonies on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. Dress in your favorite decade from the 1920s to current celebrating the past 100 years!

“Thank you for your patience as we try to provide a fun, safe fair for all who want to come,” the board said.