2023 Macon County Fair, July 28-Aug. 5

In just a few short days the Macon County Fairgrounds will come to life once again for the 41th Annual Macon County Fair, July 28-August 5.

Continuing to honor the Macon County Fair tradition of offering a variety of contests, pageants, exhibits and shows, this year’s schedule is jam-packed with entertainment appealing to the entire family including some new events: mini-rod pull and junk car race.

Kicking off the pre-fair schedule of events on Friday, July 28, is the B&K

 Carnival, which will open from 5:00 p.m. till closing. There will be a $10 admission at the front gate to the fairgrounds with the mini-rod pull in the arena. Visitors will have to purchase tickets for the rides or a $25.00 carnival armband-unlimited rides. 

On Saturday July 29, all youth exhibits/entries are to be set-up up between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The Lego Building contest is at 9:30 a.m.; Farm Toy Show set-up, 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.; Dairy Show, 1:00 p.m.; Fairest of the Fair interview, Photogenic and Miss Congeniality, 2:30 p.m.; 41th Macon County Fair Opening Ceremony and former Fairest of the Fair, 5:45 p.m.; Macon County Fair Princess Pageant at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Macon County Fairest of the Fair Pageant; and the Demo Derby, 7:00 p.m. Carnival armbands can be purchased for $25, and admission at the front gate is $10.00 from 5:00 p.m. till closing.

On Sunday, July 30, all adult, women’s building and field crop entries are to be set up between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m.; Farm Toy Show set-up from 2:00 till 5:00 p.m.; Decorated scarecrows set-up from 3:00 till 5:00 p.m.; Gospel singing & Thank You Sunday, 3:00 p.m; Home Cookery & Floral Exhibits judged at 5:00 p.m. There will be no admission at the front gate, and visitors can purchase a carnival armband for $20.00 from 3:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. There will be no events that night and none of the buildings will be open.

There will be cash giveaways at the fair each night, but this year the amounts will be posted daily.  

The fair will officially get underway on Monday, July 31, with fair exhibits judged at 8:00 a.m.; Field Crop Entry continued from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m.; the Petite Miss Pageant at 6 p.m., followed by the Sweetheart Pageant; Young Cattlemen’s Show, 6:00 p.m.; Open Commercial Beef Heifer Show, 6:15 p.m.; the Open Beef Show, 6:30 p.m. and junk car race at 7:00. Admission is $5 from 5:00 p.m. till closing and carnival armbands can be purchased for  $20.00.

Tuesday’s events include the Pedal Pull, Open Goat Show and Mule Show at 6 p.m. and the Mrs. Macon County Pageant and the Battle of Battery Powered Vehicles beginning at 7 p.m. The Ms. Senior Macon County Pageant will immediately follow the Mrs. Macon County Pageant. Admission is $5.00 from 5:00 p.m. till closing and all K-12 students will be admitted free. A carnival armband can be purchased for $20.00.

On Wednesday, fair guests will be invited to attend the Little Miss Fair Pageant and the Open Swine Show, both at 6 p.m., followed by the Miss Fair Pageant. The Lawn Mower Pull is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday is also church night special with armbands costing $18.00. Admission is $5.00 from 5 p.m. till closing.

Thursday events include Senior Citizens Day – lunch and Bingo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Women’s Building Demonstration-Quilt Bed Turnings, 12:30 p.m.; Baby Show, 5:30 p.m.; Open Sheep Show, 6 p.m.; and the Antique Tractor Pull, 7 p.m. Admission is $5.00 from 5 p.m. till closing and all Macon County Veterans will be admitted free. Carnival armbands can be purchased for $20.00.

The Tractor Pull and the Flat Rock Ramblers Concert will both take place on Friday night at 7 p.m.   Admission is $!0.00 from 5 p.m. till closing and carnival armbands can be purchased for $25.00.

On Saturday, August 5, the Backyard Cook-Off is set for 8 a.m. till 4:00 p.m.; 4-H Poultry Show & Sale, 9 a.m.; Car Show, 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.; Iron Skillet Contest, 1 p.m.; Youth Pet Show, 2 p.m.; Corn Hole Tournament, 5 p.m., and the Talent Show, 5:30. The Truck Pull and The Lugg-Nutts Concert will both begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 from 5:00 p.m. till closing and carnival armbands can be purchased for $25.00. 

The admission fee for children 6-12 is $1.00 each night, and children under 6 with parents will be admitted free each night. 

Commercial and educational exhibits and the Women’s Building will be open for viewing each day. On Monday through Thursday the hours are 5 p.m. till 9:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. Be sure to stop in and check out all of the entries!

During fair hours, the Farm Toy Show will be on display in the Bill Speck Building, and be sure to stop by the Little Red School House August 1-6 between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., where different Macon County schools and school organizations will be featured each day from 5:30 till 9:00 p.m. 

The Mobile Dairy Classroom, placement to be determined, will be held on Thursday, August 3, with programs at 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The instructor is Haley Fisher.

Fair exhibits will include submissions in the following adult categories: canning, clothing, creative table setting, field crops, fine art, floral, gardening, home cookery, needlework & crafts, Bee Keeping & Honey and photography. Youth exhibits will include arts & crafts, canning, home cookery, egg contest,  floral, club projects, gardening, needlework, photography, posters, youth projects/exhibits, table setting and sewing. 

With such a wide variety of events, games, rides and foods, the Macon County Fair is sure to satisfy your family’s need for fun and excitement. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make some memories of your own this year. Helicopter rides are back this year!

The 2023 Macon County Fair Board of Directors are: President Jeff Hughes, Vice-President Wynona Clayborne, Secretary Lisa Yokley, Treasurer Angie Doss, Fair Manager Derek Hensley, Fair Manager Assistant Terry “Bubba” White,  Leah Beth Anderson, Sammy Jo Atkins, Tyler East, Jason Goodman, Debbie Hughes, Kayla Jenkins, Mike Jenkins, Barry King, Hannah Langford, Reba McCall, Andy Morgan, Marilyn Murphy, Melissa Stevens, Kyle Turner and James White. 

The Macon County Fair Board would like to thank the Junior Board of Directors for all their hard work in helping to organize this year’s fair. 

See you at the Fair!