JOIN The FUN AT THE Allamakee County Fair THIS WEEK


Hairball ... Submitted image.

Spectacular Amusements ... Submitted image.

Rogue Rodeo ... Submitted image.

Hairball to headline Friday's grandstand entertainment; Variety of activities and events planned

This week, July 20-24,  the 169th Allamakee County Fair will be held for all to enjoy at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A wide variety of entertainment is in place to headline this year’s Fair at the grandstand, along with a great deal of other activities for everyone to enjoy each and every day throughout the five-day event.

Kicking off this year’s grandstand entertainment line-up Wednesday, July 20 at 7 p.m. will be a Truck and Tractor Pull featuring local trucks and tractors as well as some powered-up regional competitors in a variety of high-revving classes. Free admission is being granted to all local military veterans for that truck and tractor pull event.

Motocross returns to the Allamakee County Fair Thursday, July 21, as 74 Promotions Motocross brings its racing series to the local dirt track, beginning at 7 p.m. Some local favorites and some series travelers will provide all the thrills, chills and spills in a variety of competition classes.

The Friday evening, July 22 music performance in the grandstand will feature a combination of some of the hardest-hitting ‘80s rock-n-roll and music from one of the most locally-based favorites that will burn up the stage and fire up the crowd. Hairball and The Caminos will provide that Friday musical entertainment, much like they did five years ago in downtown Waukon during RAGBRAI®.

Hairball is described as much more than just a tribute band; more like a rock and roll experience. The hard rock tribute band based out of Minnesota has been paying homage the last 21 years to such world-renowned rock and roll arena acts as Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Aerosmith, Poison and more, but goes far beyond just playing their music. Those experiencing a Hairball performance will be treated to what amounts to a new concert several times over from those legendary rock and roll groups, complete with costume changes and a stage show that has made the group one of the most sought after musical performances in the Midwest.

Vocalists Joe Dandy, Kris Vox and Dave Moody combine their lyrical impressions with the rocking musical talents of HBK on the electric bass, Billy on the drums, and Happy on the lead guitar to provide what has been described as “the most drop-dead accurate” depiction of all the great “hairband” music produced in the 1980s. Combine that musical drive down memory lane with a stage show featuring lights, smoke, pyrotechnics and some other surprises to create a performance fairgoers will not soon forget.

The Caminos are a four-piece cover band that calls La Crosse, WI their home base, but has its very foundation in Waukon. Waukon natives James Deeney (vocals and acoustic guitar), Jason Herman (guitar and backing vocals) and Jeffrey Bahr (drums, percussion and backing vocals) have joined forces with Patrick Longmire, Jr. (bass guitar and backing vocals) to cover a variety of different musical genres and eras sure to please and have the crowd singing along by “playing everything from Waylon to Van Halen”.

The power and grace of a full-blown rodeo show will take over the grandstand Saturday, July 23 at 6 p.m., as Iowa-based Rogue Rodeo from Albia will bring such events as Bareback Riding, Calf Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, and even Mutton Bustin’ for the youngsters. For further details on Rogue Rodeo or to register for any of the events, visit www.roguerodeo.com.

The culminating grandstand event Sunday afternoon, July 24 will feature even more action, as area drivers will race their trucks to the limit on a Tough Truck obstacle course. Filled with mud, jumps, chills and thrills, the four-wheeled fun begins at 1 p.m.

The ability to purchase grandstand tickets online is again available for this season’s grandstand performances. The Fair’s webpage, www.allamakeecountyfair.org, has a “Buy Tickets” ticket link that will take online purchasers through a check-out process. Tickets for the grandstand events can be purchased for all five evenings of grandstand entertainment at this year’s Fair, or for just a single event. Those tickets can then be picked up at the “will call” window at the Fair Office building next to the Fairgrounds Pavilion.

Advance tickets for grandstand events can also be purchased at the Allamakee County ISU Extension office in Waukon, Waukon State Bank, Freedom Bank in Waukon and Postville, Kerndt Brothers Bank in Waukon and Lansing, Village Farm & Home in Waukon, New Albin Savings Bank and Peoples State Bank in Harpers Ferry. Tickets can also be purchased during the Fair at the Fair Office or at the grandstand.

The Allamakee County Fair Queen Pageant will kick off this year’s Fair Tuesday evening, July 19, beginning at 7 p.m., and will take place in the Fairgrounds Pavilion. The overall event will begin with presentations by local high school FFA chapter members and 4-H Expressions Day winners advancing on to the Iowa State Fair. This year’s five Fair Queen candidates - Maycie Curtin, Rhianna Jones, Mackenzie Kaeser, Claire Opperman and Cheyanne Troendle - will then take the spotlight to determine who will wear the crown of the 2022 Allamakee County Fair Queen.

For those who like to test their skills against others, there are a variety of contests being held throughout the Fair. Those competitions will kick off Wednesday, July 20 with the local competition for the statewide popular Bill Riley Talent Search, taking place at 5 p.m. in the Fairgrounds Pavilion and offering a chance for local talent - ages two to 21 - to earn a spot in the Iowa State Fair competition held in Des Moines in August. Additional information on how to register for this free contest can be found on the Allamakee County Fair website at www.allamakeecountyfair.org.

Also taking place Wednesday will be a Duct Tape Creativity Contest. Entries can be dropped off at the Commercial Building, beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 21 will feature a Pretty/Ugly Cake Decorating Contest, with a 4 p.m. drop-off time and judging to begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Open Class Exhibit Building.

Friday afternoon, July 22 will offer a pair of contest possibilities, both taking place in the Open Class Exhibit Building. A Lego Contest will be taking entries at 3:30 p.m. for a 4 p.m. judging, and a Homemade Salsa Contest will receive entries at 3:45 p.m. for judging taking place from 4-6 p.m.

The Farm Bureau Cookout Contest will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23 outside the grandstand area, with judging taking place at 4 p.m. for the chance to advance on to the statewide competition at the Iowa State Fair. Saturday afternoon, a Cookie Cook-Off Contest will be taking entries at 2:30 p.m. at the Open Class Exhibit Building for judging taking place from 3-4:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 24 will offer an opportunity to blow away the competition with a Bubble Gum Blowing Contest. That competition begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Kids Center.

For those seeking more of a physical competition, several opportunities exist to do so as well throughout the Fair. The Ag Olympics, a timed obstacle relay race using various items found on the farm, is open to youth and area business “celebrities” and takes place in the new Show Barn Thursday, July 21 at 5 p.m.

New this year will be a Dunk Tank outside the grandstand from 1-9 p.m. both Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23, with local “celebrities” making themselves available for a possible soaking. The Little Switzerland FFA Chapter from Waukon High School will be hosting Pedal Tractor Races outside the Pavilion at 3 p.m. Friday, and a Kids Pedal Tractor Pull will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23 outside the Kids Center, with registration beginning at 2:30 p.m.

New this year will be a Diaper Derby for youngsters 14 months of age or younger, beginning at 10:40 a.m. with registration Saturday, July 23. They will crawl across the grain bin gazebo in front of the Pavilion to see who completes that trek the fastest. Teams can also compete in the returning Cornhole Contest outside the grandstand Sunday, July 24, with registration at 11 a.m. and competition set to begin at 12 noon.

In addition to the grandstand attractions, there will also be a wide variety of free entertainment performances and activities throughout this year’s Fair for all to enjoy at no charge and at various venues throughout the Fairgrounds. Every day of the Fair, Wednesday through Sunday, Robey Memorial Library will feature its Story Walk. Youth and adults can read a popular children’s story each of those days by walking their way around the Fairgrounds, beginning at the Robey Memorial Library booth in the Pavilion. Dexter the Chainsaw Artist will also be on the Fairgrounds Wednesday through Sunday, with some of his creations being auctioned off throughout the Fair.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Waukon native Jonathan May of Mr. Magic Productions will be presenting a series of mystifying magic shows in the Commercial Building in the middle of the south edge of the Fairgrounds property. Mr. Magic will present shows for all ages to enjoy at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and again at both 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

A trio of free entertainment activities will take place Thursday through Saturday, with some continuing Sunday. Face Painting and Balloon Twisting will both take place in the Commercial Building from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with Face Painting also taking place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

Likewise, The Nose Caricaturist will be sketching images in the grain bin gazebo from 4-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 3-8 p.m. Saturday and again from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

The Open Exhibit Building and Fairgrounds Pavilion will both be hosting events and activities each day of the Fair, the following of which require registration at www.allamakeecountyfair.org and may require a small fee for participation. Wednesday, July 20 will feature three such events at the Pavilion, beginning with a Rolls with Royalty breakfast event at 9 a.m. and a pair of rock painting sessions in the afternoon, with a kids session taking place at 2:30 p.m. and an adult session following at 3:30 p.m.

Terra Cotta Candy Making will be held at the Pavilion at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 21, with Kids Canvas Painting taking place at 3:30 p.m. and an Adult Painting Class with Lori being held at 6 p.m., both in the Pavilion and both requiring pre-registration and a small fee. Likewise at the Pavilion and requiring registration, a Charcuterie Class with Carly is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, with a Kids Wood Sign Painting Class following at 4:30 p.m. An Adult Wood Sign Painting Class is also scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 23 at the Pavilion, and - just like all the others listed above - requires pre-registration online at www.allamakeecountyfair.org.

Also requiring pre-registration and possibly a fee, but being held in the Open Class Exhibit Building, a Cow Hat Making Class will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 21, with Kids Macrame following at 11 a.m. and a Cupcake Decorating Class being held at 3 p.m. Those pre-registration events continue at the Open Class Exhibit Building Friday, July 22 with a Ribbon Cross Craft at 10 a.m. and Cookie Decorating at 1 p.m. Those activities will wrap up Saturday, July 23 with Adult Macrame taking placing at 9 a.m., Intention Bracelets with Rachel being held at 10:30 a.m. and Boho Crochet Coasters with Hailey at 1 p.m.

A Cake Decorating Demonstration will be held at the Pavilion Thursday, July 21 at 1 p.m. with no pre-registration or fee required. Likewise, the “Barn Praising” church service hosted by Iron Ridge Church will take place Sunday, July 24 at the show barn, beginning at 10 a.m.

The Appreciation Building at the Fairgrounds will host a couple events for anyone to take part in, including Bingo being held Thursday, July 21, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Breakfast at the Fair will also take place in the Appreciation Building Sunday, July 24 from 7:30-11 a.m., with proceeds from the meal benefiting the Fair.

Along with the fun and thrills of this year’s entertainment and activity line-up, the hard work and dedication of county youth and other exhibitors will be on display each and every day of the 2022 Allamakee County Fair. The 4-H and Open Exhibit buildings on the grounds will house the efforts of local exhibitors of all ages in a wide variety of creative, useful interests.

Daily animal shows and judging will take place in the larger, more accessible livestock show barn built this past year. Construction of the new building has been made possible through the “Building New Traditions” fundraising campaign, with further donation and project information on the Allamakee County Fair website at www.allamakeecountyfair.org.

The daily livestock youth shows begin Thursday, July 21 with the Swine Judging at 8 a.m. and Sheep and Meat Goat Judging at 1 p.m., with a Pet Show taking place immediately following. Friday, July 22 will feature the Beef Judging at 9 a.m. and Rabbit Judging at 3 p.m., with Poultry Judging to follow the Rabbit show.

Dairy cattle and goats will be judged Saturday morning, July 23 at 8:30 a.m., with the Pee Wee Dairy Show at 2:30 p.m. and a Dog Show at 4 p.m. that afternoon. Sunday morning, July 24 will wrap up the livestock shows with the Horse Judging, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Horse Arena.

The traditional appreciation supper and 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction will take place Sunday afternoon in the Appreciation Center. The supper begins at 3:30 p.m., with the auction getting underway at 5 p.m. New this year will be a Parade of Champions featuring all the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion winners from this year’s Allamakee County Fair, scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Spectacular Amusements will return with its carnival midway at the Allamakee County Fair, featuring a full array of rides, games and carnival food. Rides will be in operation from 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, from 3-11 p.m. Friday, from 1-4 p.m. and again from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sunday. Wristbands allowing a full day ride session will be available for purchase both in advance and at the Fair, as are Mega Bands that allow rides during the entire Fair.

Further event details, schedule and other information about the 2022 Allamakee County Fair can be found on Page 2 of the Wednesday, July 20, 2022 edition of The Standard, and also online at www.allamakeecountyfair.org.