Rodeo added to this year’s Madison County Fair
The Madison County Fair will return to Lindendale Park in Highland from Tuesday, July 21 to Sunday, July 26.
The fair has an action-packed lineup of events in the arena, including car, lawn mower and combine demolition derbies, and ITPA truck and tractor pull, stock car racing, and new this year, a rodeo and a tractor-driving contest.
C-Bar Rodeo Co. has more than 20 years experience of bringing heart-pounding, breath-taking, professional rodeo entertainment to Illinois. Part of the Illinois Rough Stock & Barrel Racing Series, the event will include bull riding, bronc riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and cowgirl barrel racing. The rodeo will be on Wednesday, July 22.
On Sunday, July 26, the Madison County 4-H will sponsor a tractor-driving contest at p.m. in the arena. All participants in the free event must be enrolled in a 4-H Tractor Diving Project and have a signed consent form. Participants will maneuver a vehicle through a driving course, as well as take written, parts identification and safety tests. Participants ages 8 to 13 will drive a garden tractor pulling a utility cart. Those ages 14 and up will drive a tractor with a two-wheel implement. To register, call the Madison County Fair Extension office at (618) 344-4230.
Outside of the arena, there will also be lots to see and do.
Hot air balloon rides are planned for Saturday, July 25. Times are yet to be determined. All proceeds will go to charity.
A new Madison County Fair Queen will be crowned on Saturday, July 25. The pageant will be held in the Highland Elementary School Auditorium.
As always, agriculture is a big part of the fair, and there will be displays of 4-H projects and all sorts of livestock.
There are contests for kids, including a pedal tractor pull, pigtail contest, and Farm Follies, which is a contest of farm-inspired races.
A variety of food and drinks will be available, as well as games, carnival rides and free, daily entertainment.
Carnival rides
There will be daily carnival rides. Discounted armbands for carnival rides will be available for pre-sale before the fair during pre-fair office hours.
On the last day of the fair, Sunday, July 26, rides will be open from 1 to 6 p.m., and this will be a “BOGO” (buy one, get one free) day with a food drive donation (minimum two items) to be donated to local food pantries in Madison County.
Parking
Admission to the fair is free. All you have to pay for is parking.
Cost is $4 per day or $15 for a fair-week pass. Exhibitor passes are $10 and can be paid at time entries are submitted.
Camping is also available for $20 per day or $75 for all week.
Daily Entertainment
Mosaic Church in Highland will host a Daily Kids Korner, check the church’s website, mosaichighland.com, for more information.
The 4-H Federation and University of Illinois Extension will host daily kids activities, including camel and pony rides, petting zoo and more.
The New Switzerland Model Railroad Club will have a model train display Friday through Sunday in the Expo Hall.
Different bands will also be playing free concerts each night under the Main Pavilion.
2015 Madison County Fair Schedule
Tuesday, July 21
Senior Citizen Day
Parking ½ price for seniors (65-plus) until 5 p.m., with ID verification
▪ 10 a.m. - Opening Ceremonies
▪ 10 a.m. - 4-H Dairy Show (Show Barn)
▪ 10 a.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits open (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 10 a.m. - Kids Korner opens
▪ 1 p.m. - 4-H Dog Show (Swine Barn)
▪ 5 p.m. - Carnival rides open (Discounted armbands must be purchased before opening day)
▪ 6 p.m. - ITPA Truck & Tractor Pull (Arena)
▪ 8 p.m. to midnight - “Blacktop Boulevard” band (Main Pavilion)
▪ 9 p.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits close (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 11 p.m. - Carnival rides close
Wednesday, July 22
Disability Awareness Day
▪ 8 a.m. - Judging pigeons (Poultry Barn)
▪ 9 a.m. - Judging dairy cattle (Show Barn)
▪ 9 a.m. - Judging poultry (Poultry Barn)
▪ 10 a.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits open (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 10 a.m. - Kids Korner opens
▪ 10 a.m. - Disability Day activities begin
▪ 5 p.m. - Carnival rides open (armbands)
▪ 6 p.m. - 4-H Rabbit Show (4-H Barn)
▪ 7:30 p.m. - C-Bar Rodeo (Arena)
▪ 8 p.m. to midnight - “Modern Rodeo” band (Main Pavilion)
▪ 9 p.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits close (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 11 p.m. - Carnival rides close
Thursday, July 23
Public Safety Awareness Day
Parking ½ price until 5 p.m. for police, firefighters & EMTs with ID verification
▪ 10 a.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits open (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 10 a.m. - Kids Korner opens
▪ 12:30 p.m. - 4-H Poultry Show (4-H Barn)
▪ 5 p.m. - Carnival rides open (armbands)
▪ 6 p.m. - Judging rabbits (Poultry Barn)
▪ 7 p.m. - 4-H Goat Show (Sheep Barn)
▪ 7 p.m. - 4-H Fashion Revue (Main Pavilion)
▪ 7:30 p.m. - Combine Demolition Derby (Arena)
▪ 8 p.m. to midnight - “Whiskey River” band (Main Pavilion)
▪ 9 p.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits close (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 11 p.m. - Carnival rides close
Friday, July 24
Agricultural Awareness Day
▪ 8 a.m. - 4-H Swine Show (Swine Barn)
▪ 9 a.m. - 4-H Beef Show (Show Barn)
▪ 10 a.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits open (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 10 a.m. - Kids Korner
▪ 10 a.m. - Train Show opens (Dance Hall)
▪ 11 a.m. - Pork Producers BBQ Day
▪ 1 p.m. - 4-H Super Showmanship Contest, following Beef & Swine 4-H Shows (Show Barn)
▪ 5 p.m. - Carnival rides open (armbands)
▪ 7 p.m. - Car & Lawn Mower Demolition Derby (Arena)
▪ 7:30 p.m. - 4-H Livestock Auction (Swine Barn)
▪ 8 p.m. to midnight - “Midnight Buffalo Road” band (Main Pavilion)
▪ 9 p.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits close (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 11 p.m. - Carnival rides close
Saturday, July 25
Military Appreciation
Parking $1 until 5 p.m. with active, retired, or veteran military ID
▪ 8 a.m. - 4-H Sheep Show (Sheep Barn)
▪ 9 a.m. - Open Beef Steer Show (Show Barn)
▪ 9 a.m. - Open Sheep Show (following 4-H Show) (Sheep Barn)
▪ 10 a.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits open (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 10 a.m. - Train Show opens (Dance Hall)
▪ 12:30 p.m. - 4-H Cat Show (4-H Barn)
▪ 1:30 p.m. - Miss Madison County Queen Pageant (Highland Elementary School Auditorium)
▪ 2 p.m. - Farm Follies
▪ 2 p.m. - Carnival rides open (armbands)
▪ 7 p.m. - Scott Wernle & Kyle Roberts Memorial Street Stock Race with Late Models, Modifieds, BMods (Arena)
▪ 8 p.m. to midnight - “Strikeforc” band (Main Pavilion)
▪ 9 p.m. - Exhibits & 4-H Exhibits Close (Expo Hall & Dance Hall)
▪ 11:30 p.m. - Carnival rides close
Sunday, July 26
Family Fun Day
▪ 8 a.m. - Open Breeding Beef Stock Show
▪ 8:30 a.m. - Open Swine Show (Swine Barn)
▪ 10 a.m. - Expo Hall & 4-H Exhibits open
▪ 10 a.m. - Kids Corner
▪ 10 a.m. - Train Show opens (Dance Hall)
▪ 10:30 a.m. - Church service (Main Pavilion)
▪ 12:30 to 1 p.m. - Miss Pigtail Contest registration (Main Pavilion)
▪ 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. - Pedal Tractor Pull registration (Main Pavilion)
▪ 1 p.m. - Miss Pigtail Contest (Main Pavilion)
▪ 1 to 6 p.m. - Carnival rides are open (buy one, get one with food drive donation; armbands)
▪ 1:30 p.m. - Pedal Tractor Pull (Main Pavilion)
▪ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. 4-H Tractor Driving Contest
For more information, visit www.madcofair.com.
This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 3:39 AM with the headline "Rodeo added to this year’s Madison County Fair."