Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

Fun on wheels: County fairs feature tractor pulls, demolition derby

There will be plenty to yell about at tractor pull tonight and a demolition derby Saturday as the Washington County Fair in Nashville wraps up its weeklong run.

Root on your favorite neighbors tonight during a 12-class tractor pull that is limited to Washington County residents. Tractor weighing will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Pitchford Elevator.

A demolition derby will serve as the grand finale at 7 p.m. Saturday. Grandstand admission for all events is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12.

But while the Washington County Fair is winding down in Nashville, festivities at the Randolph County Fair in Sparta and the Clinton County Fair in Carlyle will just be heating up.

The Sparta gala gets under way tonight with its Little Mr. & Miss pageant followed by the lawn mower derby at 7 p.m. Friday. Other highlights will include TT racing on Tuesday, a mud bog at 7 next Thursday and horse shows on July 17 and 18 to close out the 10-day affair at the Randolph County Fairgrounds.

In Carlyle, the Clinton County Fair will be a thing of beauty when it opens with the Miss Clinton County pageant at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Also coming up: an ITPA and Illinois Hot Farm Stock Tractor Pull on Tuesday, a truck pull next Thursday and a countywide tractor pull on July 17, all topped by a final smash-'em, crash-'em demolition derby on July 18.

And, if you're up north, don't forget the Jersey County Fair starting Saturday at the fairgrounds in Jerseyville. Among the top events: harness racing at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, a parade at 6 p.m. Tuesday, a Bull Riders of America-sanctioned ride at 7 p.m. next Thursday, an NTPA Grand National Tractor Pull at 7 p.m. July 17 and a demolition derby at 6 p.m. July 19.