It is fair time in Russell County. The Russell County Fair and Horse Show begins this Friday, September 4, and will run through September 12.
The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating Traditions” as fairgoers will not only celebrate what makes Russell County great, but also 250 years of American independence.
Team roping will be the first event on the calendar. That is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday. Seth McKay and Moonshine Rivals will be performing at 8:00 p.m.
The action starts early on Saturday, September 5. The dirt bike race, archery tournament and registration for the demolition derby will all be at 10:00 a.m. The youth rodeo will follow at 11:00 a.m.
Tractors will take the spotlight for much of the evening. The tractor parade is at 4:00 p.m., with tractor games following at 4:30. The antique tractor pull is at 6:00 p.m. The demolition derby is also slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday’s music entertainment gets underway at 7:00 p.m. with Noah Spencer. Honeybadgers will follow at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday will be registration for the home economics/art/agriculture entries. Registration for the scarecrow competition will also be held on Sunday and vendors will set up in the Commercial Building. All those events are scheduled from 2:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Monday, September 7, is Veterans Day. Veterans will be admitted free of charge until 2:00 p.m. The free veterans’ breakfast will be held at the Pavilion at 9:00 a.m. The breakfast is sponsored by Bonanza.
Judging of the home economics/art/agriculture/barn quilt square exhibits will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Halter beef judging is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. The strongest farmhand competition will be at noon.
The Barbie Jeep race is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The 4H market lamb show will follow at 4:00 p.m. The pie eating competition is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Monday will also see a soft launch of the carnival at 6:00 p.m., meaning a portion of the attractions will be open.
Drag racing gets underway at 7:00 p.m. with fireworks to follow. Midlife Crisis will headline the main stage at 8:00 p.m.
Classroom Day is Tuesday, September 8. The full carnival will open at 6:00 p.m.
The rabbit show and bull riding will both start at 7:00 p.m.
In addition to being Classroom Day, Tuesday is special as it is the first of two gospel music nights. Calvary’s Chosen will get the show underway at 6:00 p.m. Following Calvary’s Chosen will be Valley Grass, The Jessee Family, and the ChuckWagon Gang.
Special Needs Day is September 9 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
A cornhole tournament and goat show will get underway at 6:00 p.m. Bull riding will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the 4H market goat show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Mountain Highway will provide musical entertainment at 8:00 p.m.
Senior Citizens, those 55 and older, will be admitted free from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., as part of Senior Day.
Pen cattle judging will begin at 2:00 p.m. The horseless cowboy contest is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The Russell County Horse Show is also scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Gospel acts performing that night will include the Holston River Boys at 6:00 p.m., followed by The Hubbard Family, The Jackson Family, Mike Upright, and Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road.
School Day is Friday, September 11. School-aged children will be admitted free until 3:00 p.m.
Activities for that day include the youth tractor driving contest at 9:00 a.m., School Day activities beginning at 10:00 a.m., baby crawling contest at noon, toddler stickhorse race at 12:15 p.m., and the carnival will open at 1:00 p.m.
The open poultry show is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The truck pull will start at 6:00 p.m., with the horse pull beginning at 7:00 p.m. The 4H poultry show and sale is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Gents and Liars will take to the stage at 8:00 p.m.
The last day of the fair, Saturday, September 12, will be a busy one. The Open Western Horse Show, side-by-side race, lineman rodeo, breeding sheep show and horseshoe pitch tournament are all scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
The commercial sheep show will get underway at 11:00 a.m. Double elimination horseshoe pitch will start at noon, as will more side-by-side races.
The chainsaw demonstration and competition are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The pet show will start at 2:00 p.m.
Weighing of market hogs is at 3:00 p.m., the market hog show at 5:00 p.m. and the open horse show at 6:00 p.m.
Kickn’ Up Dust will headline the main stage at 8:00 p.m.
Daily tickets to the Russell County Fair are $10. Children ages 6-17 are $5 and children under 5 years old are free. Season tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children.
