2013 County Fair returns to its roots

Board lowers gate prices, offers events and bands for an "old fashioned" fair

A truck splashes its way through the track during last year's Kingdom of Callaway County Fair's inaugural mud bog. The bog returns this year, alongside several "new" events that herald back to the old-fashioned country fair days. The 2013 fair will run from July 29 to Aug. 3.
A truck splashes its way through the track during last year's Kingdom of Callaway County Fair's inaugural mud bog. The bog returns this year, alongside several "new" events that herald back to the old-fashioned country fair days. The 2013 fair will run from July 29 to Aug. 3.

After years of higher gate prices, new events, flashy musical guests and dwindling attendance, the 2013 Kingdom of Callaway County Fair hopes to make a return to old form and simpler times.

The 2013 fair, slated to begin July 29 and conclude August 3, will feature local country music, barn dances, vintage tractor derbies and more old-fashioned fun, all for a reduced gate price of $5 a day.

Fair Board member Bill Gentzsch said that the solution to putting on the best fair possible here in Callaway would be a return to the style of fair he was used to seeing as a youth.

"That's what we're trying to do this time, a good ol' country fair with old-fashioned events, I think people enjoy that a little better," Gentzsch said. "The music and big stuff, it serves a crowd and I understand that, but I don't think we have that kind of crowd in Callaway County. They'd rather see an old-time fair and they told us so."

The fair will kick off Monday, July 29 with a free horse show at 6 p.m. Over the course of the following week, several old-fashioned staples will return for the first time in years. Musical performances will be provided by a myriad of local or regional gospel and country music bands. Tuesday features the antique tractor pull and other events on Callaway Bank Night, and the open-class Outlaw Derby kicks off 7 p.m. Friday.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.