Ah, the county fair: bastion of Midwestern Americana, staple of summer, the place for decadent fried doughy things-to-eat. County fairs are great, and the St. Charles County Fair opened this week and continues through the weekend.
“There’s pretty much something for everyone,” says Annie Foncannon, the fair’s entertainment director.
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If you’re not interested in goat judging and swine shows, you can ride carnival rides; check out a rodeo and tractor pull; watch jugglers, magicians, and ventriloquists ply their trades; or rock out By now, you’ve missed the crowning of the Fair Queen, but you can still see the Little Mr. and Miss St. Charles County Fair Contest on Thursday night. (For youngsters, it’s also worth noting that rides are free with paid admission.)
Saturday is Kids’ Day, beginning at 9 a.m. Young fairgoers will enjoy frog and turtle races, pedal tractor races, and sack races. There are plenty of ways to earn trophies, and a face painter will be making the rounds. The Bubble Bus is also on hand, spreading regular and glow-in-the-dark joy.
Children can check out a petting zoo or learn about agriculture at the livestock judging and 4-H demonstrations. On Friday morning, dozens of kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs will take a tour led by kids in the 4-H club.
If you’re more in the “kid at heart” category than “actual kid,” there are some cool experiences for you: The Stunt Jump lets you jump from a platform to an airbag, just like movie stunt doubles, and the Race to the Top Challenge is a four-person climbing game.
“We have probably the largest demolition derby in the St. Louis area,” Foncannon adds. “It also features a lawn mower derby—it’s interesting, to say the least.”
And for the first time ever, the fair is hosting a freestyle motocross event, with stunt jumpers on motorcycles.
Tickets $20, $5 for kids ages 6-12. St. Charles County Fair. Rotary Park, Wentzville. Visit stcharlescofair.org for more information.
