Belmont County Fair adds sensory-friendly activities for 177th year
Trending
ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The Belmont County Fair is gearing up for its 177th annual fair from Sept. 7 through 13.
This year's fair will see an attempt at making the festivities more inclusive for residents.
A sensory-friendly space in a bridal suite inside the Carnes Event Center, which was recently purchased by the Fair Board, will be operating throughout the duration of the fair.
Outside the sensory-friendly space, there will be a Giggles and Goop station where attendees can participate in various hands-on activities.
Fair Board President Ed Campbell said this year also will see the first sensory-friendly ride time Friday, Sept. 11, from 3 to 4 p.m.
"This will be the first year we do that but we’re hoping it’ll work out, and it’ll be something that we can offer every year from now on," Campbell said.
The inclusive initiative is in collaboration with The Champion in Me and the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The fair kicks off with a lamb and goat show Tuesday morning, with a hog show concluding the day that evening.
The rides will begin Wednesday and continue through Sunday. Ride hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Campbell said this year's entertainment will feature a wide variety of artists, including Simba Jordan, Eclectic Campfire Show, Turn it Up the Lynyrd Skynyrd Experience, Route 40 Band, Camo Country Club and HeeHaw Variety Show.
In addition to the live music, Thursday will feature the fan-favorite demolition derby at 6 p.m. The Belmont County Fair Rodeo will be held Thursday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Friday and Saturday will feature a tractor and truck pull at 7 p.m. The fair will conclude Sunday with a Power Wheels derby at 1 p.m., followed by the final demolition derby.
Campbell has been involved with organizing the fair for more than 40 years. He said that during his involvement, the fair has substantially grown and continues to grow each year.
"We have a lot of very good sponsors that really step up and help us out with our growth," Campbell said. "This year we’ve done a lot as fire prevention and just adding different safety features to the fairgrounds and added to what we have already."
He added that the fair has added a new section to its poultry barn. It also has acquired 25 new lifetime benches and 25 new lifetime picnic tables to add to the comfort of participants and attendees.
"We add a little bit more each year and we’ve been working with Senator [Brian] Chavez and did acquire the Capital Gains Grant, which is going to allow us to make more improvements to the fairgrounds," Campbell said. "We just try to continue to grow and add something each year."
He added that although the fair improves each year and its sponsors are incredibly helpful, it's still a fine line the board has to walk to afford to make the fair possible each year.
"Everything’s come to the electronic stage now, and it’s just everything’s different. I mean, times have changed, and you have to follow the change of everything else that’s going on," Campbell said. "There's fewer ride companies which makes it harder to get ride companies now, and you know everything’s tight, money’s tight. It’s a struggling industry, to be honest with you."
He added that the fair has a lot of good backers, as well as support from Belmont County and state officials on the agricultural society side of the fair.
"It’s just getting harder and harder but I got a very good group of people working. Our fair board is a very good group of people, and we just couldn’t pull that off without them," Campbell said. "They're just a really good group of people."
He added that his favorite part of the fair is watching the kids selling the livestock and interacting with them.
"They put all year into this, and that’s my main passion," Campbell said.
Admission to the fair will be $15, which includes all mechanical rides, shows, events and parking.