Wi-Fi, extreme motocross new this year
By Bill Petzold
Editor
CARO — At age 133, the Tuscola County Fair will take a giant leap forward into the 21st Century.
This year, fairgoers will have the added benefit of free Wi-Fi internet service on the grounds all week long, thanks to AVCI.net.
“The owner of AVCI and Thumb Cellular, … (is) going to put internet service in that’s going to cover all of our fairgrounds so all our fair visitors can use the internet service,” fair board president Jim Will said. “Anybody can bring their Nook, their smartphone, their laptop or whatever, and they’ll have access to live internet. One of the installers putting it in said they should be able to handle 2,000 or 3,000 internet users at a time with the system they’re putting in. It might be a hit or miss thing, trying to find the dead spots, but they’re going to do their best to cover the entire fairgrounds.”
Aside from adding web access, fair attendees can expect to see a few new rides at this year’s fair. T.J. Schmidt & Company of Standish are pleased to announce the acquisition of a “much bigger” Ferris wheel — one that will take riders a full 75 feet into the air above the midway. Guests also may now check out the Cliffhanger ride, a ride that makes riders feel like they’re flying, as well as the Zipper.
Again this year, admission is a pay-one-price $10 fee, which includes unlimited rides, access to all buildings and displays at the fairgrounds, as well as admission to the grandstand events.
This year’s grandstand events include a demolition derby beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and extreme motorcycle racing beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening. Martin Xtreme Motorcycle Racing will construct a motocross course in the infield of the track at the Tuscola County Fairgrounds. Fair board member Jackie Garner said that soil to build the jumps was provided by the city of Caro. The soil was a byproduct of the Columbia Street project in Caro.
“The city had to do something with the dirt to dispose of it, and we ended up being a disposal site,” Will said.
A truck and tractor pull is planned for 7:30 p.m. Thursday night, with participants from the Thumb Truck and Tractor Association taking part. On both Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, the Super Kicker Rodeo comes to town with action beginning at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and team roping are planned.
Two theme days are planned again. Tuesday is Kids Day, with reduced admission for kids ages 14 and younger and free t-shirts for the first 800 kids with paid admission. Thursday is Family Agricultural Day, with free admission for attendees age 62 and older. Thursday’s events include a flea market in Beith Park, as well as a performance by Greg Trent and the Triple Threat Band (near Merchant’s Building). The 4-H and Future Farmers of America Small and Large Livestock Sales will take place in the morning, followed by the presentation of the eighth annual “Providing a World of Opportunities” Tuscola County Business Community 4-H Scholarship, presented by Tuscola County MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development in partnership with the Tuscola County Advertiser, Poet Biorefining, McDonald Chevrolet of Millington and Tri-County Equipment.
At $10 for the entire day, organizers hope the low cost of admission and wide range of events helps pack the fairgrounds for the entire week.
And, knowing that some people simply want to stop by, grab a cup of Gibby’s Fries or an elephant ear without paying the cost of admission, they point out that there will be FREE admission Sunday evening, which includes a free contemporary Christian music concert from 3 to 6 p.m. with an added ice cream social, as well as a talent show beginning at 7 p.m.
Food vendors again will be open Monday as the 4-H exhibits open at 9 a.m. Midway rides don’t begin until Tuesday, but admission is only $5 per vehicle for parking.
For more information, visit the Tuscola County Fair website at tuscolacountyfair.org or find the Fair page on Facebook.