Sharks, STEM, and surprises: Utah County Fair to boast array of activities
Matt Morin holds his daughter, Grace, 1, as he and his wife, Erika, all of Orem, check out some of the live animals on display during the Utah County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Erick Krushinsky touches noses with his daughter, Berlynn, 1, both of Payson, on a merry-go-round during the Utah County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
The Elzinga family including, from left, Bret, Kaylee, 8, and Anndrea, all of Springville, enjoy a meal during the Utah County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Watch out Utah County, sharks are coming your way. From Aug. 15 to 18, the Utah County Fair takes over at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, bringing with it these aquatic animals and plenty of other things to see and experience.
Events will kick off on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m. with the opening ceremonies, featuring the county commissioners as special guests.
“We invite everyone to come and join us when we open the fair,” said Susan Duncan, the assistant administrator of the fair.
Some of the main attractions this year include a bullfighting event and a monster truck event, both with tickets available at a 30 percent discount by using code “monster30” when purchased online. There will be a concert featuring the group “Danny and the Moonlight Serenaders,” as well as the classic rodeo, which is free and open to all and will feature a secret intermission show.
“We invite one and all to come and be entertained with the rodeo,” Duncan said.
“You have to come and watch it, it’s suspenseful,” added fair administrator Spring Kenton.
In addition to the staple events, the fair also will include activities for all ages, such as a hot dog eating contest, a large LEGO display, a STEM trailer with a robotics competition and hands-on taxidermy displays.
“We’ve got a live shark tank exhibit, our traditional snails and tails, snakes and those wonderful things,” Duncan said.
“We’re having a competition between the cities in Utah county about who can decorate the best pig to advertise the fair,” Kenton added.
“They’ll be on display at the fair,” Duncan said. “People can get a good look at them.”
This year also includes a dunk tank fundraiser for charity. Proceeds will go to the Dan Peterson school, sponsored by Larry Miller Mercedes out of Draper.
“I don’t think there’s one thing that we’re not excited about,” Duncan said. “It’s meant to be a community event, it’s meant to bring families together. We’re just excited about the fair.”
“This year we’ll have the opportunity to reach more people and have people feel the community, the unity,” Kenton said. “I think it gives the opportunity to unite the community as one, like it used to be. Traditional fairs used to unite the community, that’s what we’re wanting to do again.”
“We love it when the volunteers come together, from extension, to vendors, to taxidermy, to the STEM trailer,” Duncan said. “It takes such an amount of people to put together such a wonderful event and we couldn’t do it without our wonderful volunteers. We truly appreciate Utah county.”
The full schedule and more details about the fair can be found at http://www.utahcountyfair.org/schedule.html.