A lively mix of old favorites and exciting new performances are in store for attendees at the 2014 Sherburne County Fair in Elk River that will begin its four-day run at 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 17 and closing on Sunday, July 20. The schedule includes truck and tractor pulls for the mechanically inclined, performances from a country music legend and the high-flying antics of the American Wrestling Federation.
Bikes Galore!
Continuing the tradition of the “Bike Raffle”, this year a total of 48 bicycles have been donated by area businesses, according to Fair Board Director Irene Kostreba. When kids enter the fairgrounds, they receive a wrist band with a serial number, Kostreba said.
A tab bearing the same number is detached when the wrist band is issued, and placed in the raffle hopper for that day.
At 4:30 p.m. each day, the winning numbers will be drawn and that day’s number of bikes will be given away at that time. At least eight winners will be drawn Thursday through Saturday, with the remainder of the bikes presented on Sunday afternoon.
Fair History Center
Kostreba has also put together a display of artifacts for the new Sherburne County Fair History Center at the fairgrounds this year. The fair is 126 years old this year, she said, with the first one taking place in downtown Elk River in 1889.
She is still seeking items of historic significance from past fairs, and is asking that area residents who have such items consider donating or loaning them to the exhibit to help in the effort to create a lasting legacy for the fair. For more information or to make a donation, contract Irene Kostreba at (763) 441-4457, or the fair office at (763) 441-3610.
That’s Entertainment!
The National Tractor Pulling Association championship pulling event will shake the ground around the grandstand at the fairgrounds starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 17. Classes will include heavy super stock, pro farm, pro stock diesel and super farm tractors, super stock four-wheel drive trucks and pro stock semi tractors. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children at the gate.
The ground will shake in a different way on Friday, July 18 as the American Wrestling Federation show comes to the grandstand with an action-packed card of five matches featuring AWF Champion Tony Danucci and wrestling stars Johnny Parks, Ariya Daivari and 6’7” “Big Sepp”. Representative Nick Zerwas (R-Elk River) is also listed on the AWF poster, but his role in the event has yet to be revealed.
The all-ages family show is billed as the “Grandstand Slam”, with the gate opening at 6:30 p.m. and the bell for the first match set for 7:30 p.m. Ringside tickets are $12, adult admission is $8 and kids 13 and under get in for $5.
Music legend Sherwin Linton performs three shows on the free stage at the fairgrounds on Sunday, July 20, appearing with Pam Linton and The Cotton Kings in an eclectic mix of gospel, classic country and a tribute to Johnny Cash. Linton has been performing for 58 years, and has played with some of the biggest names in the music industry in his long career.
His old-time Gospel show will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a classic country/rockabilly set at 1:30 p.m. and the Johnny Cash Tribute Show at 3 p.m.
Advance tickets for selected events and more information can be found on the fair web site at www.sherburnecountyfair.org, or by calling the fair office at (763) 441-3610.
