Madison County Fair runs Tuesday through July 26

The Madison County Fair in Highland is going great guns with six days jam-packed with livestock exhibits, carnival rides, live music, a queen competition and high-powered arena events Tuesday through July 26.

One event you don’t want to miss is the Lawn Mower Demolition Derby at 7 p.m. Friday. Mower jockeys will compete for a $500 purse in two classes: mowers with snap ring tires and those with bolt-on tires. It’s the same night as the Car Demolition Derby, so you can get twice the destruction for the price of one. Box seats are $15; adults (11 and up), $12; 10 and younger, free. Stands open at 6.

Other arena events include the ITPA Tractor-Truck Pull at 6 p.m. Tuesday; C-Bar Rodeo at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Combine Demolition Derby, 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Scott Wernle-Kyle Roberts Memorial Street Stock Race, 6:45 p.m. (all events box seats, $15; 11-and-up, $12; 10 and younger, free). Admission to the 4-H and FAA tractor driving contest at 2 p.m. Sunday is free.

Admission to the fairgrounds if free; parking is $4 per day; $15 for the week. The 4-H Federation and University of Illinois Extension will have daily kids activities, including face painting, crafts, balloon animals and pony rides. Carnival rides are open from 5 to 11 each night.

Here are highlights from the daily schedule:

Tuesday

Senior Citizen Day (parking 1/2 price for 65-plus until 5 p.m)

10 a.m. 4-H-Dairy Show

2 p.m. 4-H Dog Show

6 p.m. ITPA Truck and Tractor Pull

7 p.m. 4-H Dog Show

8-midnight Music by Blacktop Boulevard

Wednesday

10 a.m. Disability activites begin

7:30 p.m. C-Bar Professional Rodeo in the Arena

8-midnight Music by Modern Rodeo in the Main Pavilion

July 23

Public Safety Awareness Day (parking 1/-price for police, firefighters and EMTs)

7 p.m. 4-H Goat Show

7 p.m. 4-h Fashion Revue in the main pavilion

7:30 p.m. Combine Demolition Derby

8-midnight Whiskey River Band

July 24

8 a.m. 4-H Swine Show

9 a.m. 4-H Beef Show

10 a.m. Train show opens in dance hall

11 a.m. Pork Producers’ BBQ Day

1 p.m. 4-H Super Showmanship Contest

7 p.m. Car and Lawn Mower Demolition Derbies

8-midnight Music by Buffalo Road

July 25

Military Appreciation Day (parking $1 until 5 p.m. with active, retired or veteran ID)

8 a.m. 4-H Sheep Show

9 a.m. Open Beef Steer Show

9 a.m. Open Sheep Show

10 a.m. Train Show opens

12:30 p.m. 4-H Car Show

1:30 p.m. Miss Madison County Queen Pageant (school auditorium)

2 p.m. Farm Follies sponsored by Madison County Young Farmers

6:45 p.m. Scot Wernle & Kyle Roberts Memorial Street Stock Race with late models, modifieds, BMods, street stocks

8-midnight Music by The Strikeforce Band

July 26

8 a.m. Open Breeding Beef Stock Show

8:30 a.m. Open Swine Show

10 a.m. Train Show

10:30 a.m. Church services hosted by Mosaic Church of Highland

Noon 4-H and FFA Tractor Driving Contest

1 p.m. Miss Pigtail Contest

1:30 p.m. Pedal Tractor Pull

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 3:21 AM with the headline "Madison County Fair runs Tuesday through July 26."