Summer doesn't officially get underway until fair time hits. Next week, the fun will begin for Marshall County.
The Central Iowa Fair will begin Wednesday and run through Sunday at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds in Marshalltown.
This year there will be the regular, jam-packed lineup of 4-H activities along with live music and other entertainment, food, games, crafts and other events. Most of the events at the fair are free to attend, and the theme this year is "Boots, Buckles and Bunches of Fun."
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The local band Loose Neutral will perform at 8 p.m. July 14 as part of the Central Iowa Fair. The fair opens this Wednesday at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds in Marshalltown.
Jodi Breniman, vice president of the Central Iowa Fair board, said it is also trying several new events this year.
One of those is the Little Miss Princess competition (Wednesday night, 7:15 p.m.) along with the Central Iowa Fair queen crowning. A total of 17 girls between kindergarten and third grade have signed up, and one will be randomly selected to be Little Miss Princess.
"It was just something that we modeled off the Little Miss Rose Bud in State Center," Breniman said. "Hopefully these little girls will grow up and want to be the fair queen."
Fact Box
2012 Central Iowa Fair schedule
July 11 to 15, Central Iowa Fairgrounds
Wednesday
ENTRY DAY
7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Open Class Take-In Exhibit Building
7:30 a.m. Check-In for 4-H/FFA Horse Show
8:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Derby Swine Weigh In North end of Pavilion
8:00 a.m. Swine must be in place.
8:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Horse Show Outdoor Arena
10:00 a.m. Outside and Food Venders Open
11:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Rabbit Agility Exhibit Building Rabbit Show to follow
2:00 p.m. All Livestock MUST be in place
2:00 p.m. 4-H/FFA Beef Weigh-In South end of Pavilion
2:00 p.m. 4-H/FFA Sheep/Meat Goat Weigh-In Sheep Barn
2:00 p.m. Veterinarian's Livestock Check
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Refreshments sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America - Tent
4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Face Painting
4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Putt Putt Golf, Spin Art, and inflatables.
5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Sheltered Reality Stage
7:00 p.m. Central Iowa Fair Hall of Fame Award - Stage
7:15 p.m. Central Iowa Fair Little Miss Princess Crowning and
Central Iowa Fair Queen Crowning Stage
Thursday
SENIOR CITIZENS DAY
8:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Bank Breakfast Sponsored by Wells Fargo Big Top Tent
8:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Sheep Show Pavilion
Open Bottle Lamb Show during sheep show
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Activity Building Opens
10:00 a.m. Outside and Food Vendors Open
10:00 to 8:00 p.m. Face Painting
10:00 to 1:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
10:30 a.m. Bingo Activity Building
11:00 to 8:00 p.m. Putt Putt Golf/Spin Art/Inflatable's/Dunk Tank
11:30 to 1:00 p.m. Farm Bureau Members only appreciation luncheon Big Top Tent
Noon 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Show Pavilion Open Bottle Goat during goat show
Noon BBQ with water provided by Great Western Bank
1:00 p.m. Paper Rocket Launch sponsored by Marshall Co. Rockets Exhibit Building
2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Embers Kitchen Band with Keith Lambertsen Stage
2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Vendors/Crafters/Merchants Activity Building
3:00 p.m. Obstacle Course sponsored by 4-H County Council Outdoor Arena
3:00 p.m. 4-H/FFA Dairy Cattle Show Pavilion Open Novice Show to follow and
4-H/FFA Dairy Goat Show to follow
3:00 p.m. Communications Exhibit Building
3:00 p.m. BINGO Activity Building
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
4:00 to 4:30 p.m. Move with Me Fun & Fitness (Zumba) - Stage
4:00 to 4:30 p.m. Check in for CIF Business Cowlympics
4:45 p.m. Cowlympics
5:00 p.m. Open Bottle/Bucket Calf Interviews Pavilion
5:00 p.m. Pie Baking Contest Registration at 4:30 p.m. in Exhibit Building
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Marshalltown Chamber Mixer after hours Big Top Tent
5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Marshalltown's Sweet Adeline's Stage
6:00 p.m. Outdoor Twister Central Iowa 4-H Outdoor Arena
6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Open Feeder Calf Weigh-In Pavilion
7:00 p.m. Pie Auction Stage
7:30 p.m. Marshalltown City Band Stage
7:30 p.m. Pie/Ice Cream Social Ice Cream provided by North 3rd Ave. Dairy Queen and
Pie provided by Morning Glory Bakery. This will be held in the Picnic Shelter
Friday
AGRICULTURAL DAY
7:00 to 7:30 a.m. Open Feeder Calf Weigh-In Pavilion
8:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Bank Breakfast sponsored by US Bank Big Top Tent
9:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Beef Show Pavilion
Open Feeder Calf show immediately following Beef Show.
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Activity Building Opens
10:00 a.m. Outside and Food Vendors Open
10:00 a.m. Oreo Cookie Stacking Contest Exhibit Building (Registration at 9:45 a.m.)
10:00 to 1:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
10:00 to 8:00 p.m. Vendors/Crafters/Merchants Activity Building
10:00 to 8:00 p.m. Face Painting
10:30 a.m. Bingo Activity Building
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Putt Putt Golf/Spin Art/Inflatable's/Dunk Tank
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rock Climbing Wall sponsored by the Iowa National Guard
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Marshall County Cattleman BBQ with water provided by Great Western
Bank Big Top Tent
Noon Marshall Co. Pachyderm Club Big Top Tent
Guest Speaker Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Marshalltown Police Patrol Display
1:00 p.m. Cookie Decorating Contest Exhibit Building.
1:00 p.m. Water Balloon Volleyball Timber Creek Champs Outdoor Arena
2:00 to 3:00 p.m. DJ Legendary Hip Hop - Stage
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Blank Park Zoo Educational Display/Live Animals Picnic Shelter
2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Toby the Balloon Guy walking the grounds
3:00 p.m. Bingo
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Move with Me Fun and Fitness (Zumba) Stage
3:00 to 11:00 p.m. Mechanical Bull Rides
3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Win it In a Minute Contest Marshalltown Trailblazers Big Top Tent
4:30 p.m. Cake Walk Rhodes Ravens Big Top Tent
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Broadway Dance Studio - Stage
5:30 p.m. 4-H/FFA Poultry Show Poultry Area
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Second Nature Band Stage
6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
6:30 p.m. A Night at the Races Grandstand
7:00 p.m. 4-H Clothing Event Judging Exhibit Building
7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Open Show Gilts & Barrows will be weighed in - Pavilion
8:00 p.m. Clothing Fashion Show Exhibit Building
8:00 p.m. to Midnight Wikid Likir Band Big Top Tent
Saturday
FAMILY FUN DAY
7:00 to 9:00 a.m. 4-H/FFA Bank Breakfast sponsored by Farmers Savings Bank Tent
7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Open Show Gilts and Barrows will be weighed in Pavilion
7:15 a.m. Mr. Car Raceway Practice
7:30 a.m. 4-H/FFA Swine Show Pavilion
9:30 a.m. Tallest Corn Stalk Contest Exhibit Building
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Activity Building Opens
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Face Painting
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Vendors/Crafts/Merchants Activity Building
10:00 a.m. Outside and Food Vendors Open
10:00 a.m. Nag Drag
10:00 a.m. Kiwanis P.M. Kiddie Tractor Pull Exhibit Building sign up at 9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
10:30 a.m. BINGO Activity Building
10:30 a.m. Marble Art sponsored by Four Leaf Clovers Exh. Building
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Putt Putt Golf/Spin Art/Inflatable's/Dunk Tank
11:00 a.m. Wii Bowling Activity Building
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rock Climbing Wall sponsored by Iowa National Guard
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Marshall County Swine Producers BBQ Big Top Tent
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wheel of Fortune and Face Painting Gilman Rustlers Picnic Shelter
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cornflake Cloggers - Stage
Noon Mr. Car Raceway Races
1:00 p.m. Celebrity Swine Show (or immediately following 4-H/FFA Show) Pavilion
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Water Balloon Volleyball Outdoor Arena sponsored by Melbourne 4-H
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Broadway Dance Studio Stage
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Marshalltown Police Patrol Display
1:30 p.m. Challenge Class Exhibit Building
2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Toby the Balloon Guy Walking the Grounds
2:00 p.m. Ice Cream Eating Contest sponsored by Liscomb Lively Labors
4-H Club Stage
2:00 p.m. Hustle to the Finish Replay Haverhill Hustlers Outdoor arena
3:00 p.m. 4-H/FFA Dog Obedience - Pavilion
3:00 p.m. Frozen T-Shirt Relay Albion Ables 4-H Club South Side of Picnic Shelter
3:00 p.m. Bingo Activity Building
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Variety Show Stage
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
3:00 to 11:00 p.m. Mechanical Bull Rides
4:30 p.m. Pet Show Pavilion
5:00 p.m. Y Line Dancers Stage
5:30 p.m. Y Taekwondo Demonstration front of stage
6:00 p.m. 4-H State Fair Pictures Exhibit Building
6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Whirlybird Helicopter Rides
6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Let's Dance Studio Stage
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Prairie Creek String Band - Stage
7:00 p.m. Truck Pull Grandstand
8:00 p.m. to Midnight - Loose Neutral Band Big Top Tent
Sunday
8:00 a.m. Church Services Big Top Tent
9:00 a.m. Rain date for Horse Show Outdoor Arena
10:00 a.m. Outside & Food Vendors Open
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Face Painting
10:00 a.m. Awards Presentation Pavilion
Ruth Gale Memorial, Food & Nutrition & Skilled Sewing Awards
Record Book Recognition
4-H Quilt Raffle Winner
Premier 4-H/FFA Member
10:30 a.m. Supreme Showmanship Contest
11:30 a.m. Parade of Champions in the Pavilion
Noon Mr. Car Raceway Races
1:00 p.m. 4-H/FFA Exhibits are released.
2:00 p.m. Motor Madness Grandstands
Business people in the area will learn life on the farm during another new event - the Cowlympics (Thursday, 4:45 p.m.). These "city slickers" will don overalls and compete by baling hay and doing other farm activities.
"It's fun to get the community involved," Breniman said.
Also new this year is an authentic 1800s chuckwagon, which will be at the fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It will include people dressed in old western clothes and cooking free samples of food over an open stove.
The Marshall County 4-H youth will have plenty going on, from showing animals to other projects they've worked on this past year.
"The kids have worked hard on their projects," Breniman said.
The activity building will be full of exhibitors with crafts and other area businesses.
The grandstand entertainment will wrap up with race night on Friday and truck pulls on Saturday night. Those in the mood for music can check out free shows by Wikid Likir on Friday night and Loose Neutral on Saturday night at the big top tent.
Breniman said overall the goal is to have something for everyone at the fair.
"We're very excited about the fair," she said.
For more information on the fair, call the fair office at 641-753-3671