The 78th annual Jefferson County Fair will offer some old favorites, some new events and lots of tasty treats.
The four-day fair is set for Thursday through Sunday, July 18-21, at the county Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21, in Hillsboro. The hours are 5-11 p.m. July 18; 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 19; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 20; and 3-9 p.m. July 21.
Admission is free for children younger than 10 and for active military members. Admission is $15 for those 11 and older and includes access to all events in the arena, main stage, pavilions and Civic Club buildings and grounds.
A discounted gate pass costs $50 for one person to use all four nights, two people for two nights or four people for one night. To purchase tickets, go to jeffersoncountyfair.net and click on “events” then “event tickets” at the top of the page. Tickets will also be available at the Civic Club through July 17.
Parking is available onsite and at Hillsboro High School, with a complimentary shuttle service offered on July 19 and July 20.
New to the fair this year are pig races, to be held each evening in the agriculture barns on the north end of the Fairgrounds.
“This is a fun new thing, and we’re thinking it’s going to be super fun,” said Tammy Valencia, Civic Club office assistant. “I think kids are going to love it, even older kids. I’ve seen it other places, and it’s very well received.”
July 20 is Fan Appreciation Day.
“We’ve got a ton of fans to hand out at the box office,” Valencia said. “There will be other things going on that day, too.”
A carnival midway will offer rides all four days of the fair. Single-day, unlimited-ride armbands will be $25 in advance or $35 onsite. To purchase armbands, go to wadeshows.com and click on find an event and then scroll down to Jefferson County Fair. The Wade site also has useful information about ride height requirements.
Concession stands and vendors will offer a wide variety of food and beverages for sale.
“The soda booths are staffed by different groups,” Valencia said. “Baseball teams, football teams, school band, girls wrestling, they work the booth and they get the proceeds and the tips. The profit from the fair, that money goes right back into the community for different projects. The Civic Club really does a good job of giving back.”
Country/rock band Parmalee will headline the weekend’s musical offerings, taking the Budweiser Main Stage at 9 p.m. July 19. Borderline, the opening band, will play beginning at 7:30. Other musical acts throughout the weekend will include the Broseph Tucker Band and Lick Creek band in the RWZ Pavilion and other assorted artists on the Arnold Ready-Mix Patio.
Motorsports will include motocross and ATV competitions, a truck pull and a demolition derby in the STL Diesel Arena.
“We have a new demo derby company this year,” Valencia said. “And there will be a little kids Power Wheel event before the actual derby. They’ve done it before and they’re bringing it back.
“We’re really looking forward to that. I think it will be really cute.”
July 21 is Kids’ Day, featuring crafts, games, water play, inflatables and a variety of activities at the Sapaugh Family Pavilion
“Wildlife Command Center will be here with a bunch of their fun animals,” Valencia said. “There’ll be a petting zoo. There’ll be face painting, pony rides, games and crafts.”
A cattle show and auction will be held, sponsored by the Jefferson County 4H and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.
No pets, no coolers and no weapons are allowed at the fair. Outside food and beverages also are prohibited.
For more information about the fair, visit jeffersoncountyfair.net or call the Civic Club office at 636-789-2600.
Civic Club officials say the Jefferson County Fair page on Facebook also is frequently updated.
The contemporary country band Parmalee will headline the Budweiser Main Stage at 9 p.m. on July 19.
Country group Parmalee to headline 2024 Jefferson County Fair
This year’s Jefferson County Fair, to be held July 18-21, will feature nine musical acts, with five returning after performing at the fair last year.
The acts will play a wide range of music and will perform on either the Budweiser Main Stage, the RWZ Pavilion or the Arnold Ready Mix Patio, all on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21, in Hillsboro.
It’s free to attend the concerts after paying admission to the fair.
Parmalee
The contemporary country band Parmalee will headline the Budweiser Main Stage at 9 p.m. on July 19. The group is made up of brothers Matt Thomas (on guitar and lead vocals) and Scott Thomas (on drums) as well as their cousin, Barry Knox, and longtime friend, Josh McSwain (on guitar).
The band was formed in 2001 and later got its first recording contract with Stoney Creek Records in 2011. The group had their first No. 1 Country Airplay hit, “Carolina,” in 2013.
Matt Woods, board member of the Hillsboro Civic Club Board and the fair’s music chairman, said he’s excited to have Parmalee perform at the fair.
“It’s cool to have a large name band in your backyard,” he said.
Parmalee has two other No. 1 Country Airplay hits, with “Just The Way,” a collaboration with rapper Blanco Brown, and “Take My Name.”
The band’s most recent album, “For You 2,” was released in 2021.
Woods said the band had been booked for the 2020 Jefferson County Fair, but it had to cancel.
“So, they’ve been on our radar, and they’ve had even more hits since then,” he said.
In 2010, the band’s Scott Thomas had a near-death experience when he was shot three times while two men robbed them at gunpoint while they were in their RV after a show in Rock Hill, S.C. Scott was in a coma for 10 days and spent 30 days recovering in the hospital. Five months later, he played a showcase with Stoney Creek Records, which signed them, according to the band’s website.
Woods said the fair is trying to bring in musical acts that appeal to a younger audience and believe Parmalee can do that.
RWZ Pavilion
The Broseph Tucker Band, Borderline and Lick Creek will perform at the RWZ pavilion.
■ The Broseph Tucker Band, a party country rock band, will kick off the live music at 8 p.m. July 18. Band members include Tucker Barnes (on vocals and guitar), Hunter Clubb (drums and vocals), Dave Barnes (bass and vocals) and Greg Gill (guitar and vocals).
According to the band’s website, it provides “a full-blown experience that keeps the party going from dusk till dawn, seamlessly blending the best of country’s newest artists with a raw, unapologetic energy.”
■ Borderline returns to the pavilion at 10 p.m. on July 19. The six-member group from the St. Louis area was formed in the late 1990s and has shared the stage with acts such as Trace Adkins, Lee Brice and Phil Vassar. Borderline plays today’s top country hits, classic country and classic rock.
■ Lick Creek will return to the pavilion at 9 p.m. on July 20. The six-member band from Illinois includes Clint Brockmeyer on lead guitar, harmonica and mandolin; Ryan King on lead guitar, banjo and mandolin; Jimmy Cloney on bass and vocals; Maddie Brown on guitar and lead vocals; Bob Bryant on drums and Lance Stone on lead vocals.
Lick Creek “brings a unique sound to today’s pop country-dominated world” and adds “some classic 70’s rock/southern rock and mesh it with a swampy blues and country sound,” according to the band’s website.
“Lick Creek is back by very popular demand,” Woods said.
Arnold Ready Mix Patio
The Arnold Ready Mix Patio lineup includes the duo Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin; Scotty Kemp; Dawn Turlington; Bill Scott and Vince Martin.
■ Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin return to the fair from 5-9 p.m. on July 18. The pair is part of Cody and the Chameleons, formerly the Unspecific Railroad Band and will play country music.
■ Scotty Kemp returns to the patio from 5-9 p.m. on July 19. Kemp is a singer-songwriter and one-man act who plays country, classic rock and blues. During his performances, he uses self-recorded backing tracks to accompany his live performances. He plays at local venues, including at the El Mariachi restaurant in House Springs
■ Dawn Turlington, a full-time singer who works in local restaurants and clubs, will perform from 5-9 p.m. on July 20. She sings anything from show tunes and jazz standards to pop and Top 40 hits, according to the La De Da entertainment website.
■ Bill Scott is returning to the patio this year from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on July 21 and will play country music.
■ Vince Martin will round out the patio performances from 6-9 p.m. July 21. Martin is a singer and musician who performs a variety of styles and genres of music. He has played at local venues such as Café Telegraph and the Gulf Shores Restaurant Grill locations in Creve Coeur and St. Peters.
Aria Paul, then 10, of Hillsboro competes in a motorsports competition last year.
Fair to feature motorsport events all four nights
Those who attend the Jefferson County Fair, which runs from July 18-21, will have the chance to watch a variety of motorsports, with events held each night in the STL Diesel Arena at the county Fairgrounds.
Fair chairman Randy Starkey said people enjoy the motorsports, which will include motocross racing, SxS and ATV racing, a truck and tractor pull and a demo derby.
“For the last few years, we’ve continued to grow our crowds at the fair, and we want to get better and better every year,” Starkey said.
Tickets for the fair include admission to the motorsport’s events.
Motocross
The 2024 Jeffco Classic, a motocross event presented by Surdyke Motorsports will start at 7 p.m. on July 18.
“County fair racing is some of the best amateur racing there is,” said Jonah Surdyke, general manager for Surdyke Motorsports.
The competition will include 20 classes, five of which have a cash payout, he said.
“This year we’ve added a minimum $250 cash prize for some of the classes, so it should add some extra excitement on the two-wheel motocross night,” Surdyke said.
Other winners will receive commemorative plaques.
Early registration for the event costs $30, registration on the day of the event is $35 and the pit fee is $10.
Riders may sign up for early registration until July 17 at Surdyke Motorsports, 1305 Hwy. 61, south of Festus. Registration is from 4-6 p.m., and practice is at 6 p.m. Anyone who registers for the race will be entered to win a $250 gift card for Surdyke Motorsports. Participants also will get a goodie bag with miscellaneous items for dirt bikes and side-by-sides. Call or text Surdyke at 636-931-9166 for more information.
SxS and ATV Race
The SxS (side-by-side) and ATV racing events presented by Surdyke will begin at 7 p.m. July 19. Competitions in different classes will be held, including sports ATV, youth and side-by-side turbo. Early registration for the event costs $30, registration on the day of is $35 and the pit fee is $10. Riders may sign up for early registration until July 17 at Surdyke Motorsports. Registration for the event is from 5-6 p.m., and practice is at 6 p.m. Participants will also get a goodie bag with miscellaneous items for dirt bikes and side-by-sides.
The event will consist of double-elimination, tournament-style races. The winner of each round will continue to advance until one rider is declared the winner. “The (1-versus-1), heads-up style of this event will keep the excitement rolling all night long,” Surdyke said.
The winner of each class will earn bragging rights and receive a commemorative plaque. Anyone registering for a race will also be entered to win a $250 gift card from Surdyke Motorsports. Surdyke will raffle off a 2024 Polaris RZR200 at 9 p.m. July 19. Only 1,000 tickets are being sold, and the proceeds will benefit the Jefferson County Rescue Mission. Tickets are being sold at Surdyke Motorsports and will be available at the fair up until the drawing. Call or text Surdyke at 636-931-9166 for more information.
Truck and Tractor Pull
The truck and tractor pull will start at 7 p.m. on July 20 and is a co-sanctioned event with the Mid Missouri Truck and Tractor Pulling Association and Eastern Missouri Truck Pullers.
Each of the groups will host their own classes and then will combine forces for three of the classes.
EMTP will have gas and diesel classes, including street stock gas, small block gas, hot stock gas (co-sanctioned), pro street gas (co-sanctioned), pro stock gas (co-sanctioned), true stock diesel, hot stock diesel, work stock diesel and 2.6 smooth bore diesel.
The MMTTPA classes will include hot stock tractor 11000, pro field tractor 6500, limited super stock tractor 6500, pro field tractor 9500 and limited pro stock tractor 8500.
EMTP will hold its technical inspection from 3:30-5:30 p.m. followed by registration from 4-6 p.m. A driver meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 7 p.m. Drivers must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
Each hook during the EMTP events costs $40 for non-members of EMTP and $30 for members. “I’m expecting this to be a big show, and people always look forward to coming to the fair,” said Dwight Terry of the Eastern Missouri Truck Pullers. He said the group expects to have 100-plus hooks.
MMTTPA will hold registration from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and have a technical inspection from 5-6 p.m. The event will then start at 7 p.m.
A hook in the MMTTPA pulls costs $60 for non-members of MMTTPA and $30 for members. Anyone 14 and older may participate. However, those younger than 18 need parental consent.
Competitors must meet the organization’s specific safety requirements.
“Everyone needs to understand that safety is a big thing,” Terry said.
For questions about the pulls and safety requirements, visit easternmissouritruckpullers.com/rules and mmttpa.com/rules.
Demo Derby
The Flowers Full Throttle Demo Derby will begin at 5 p.m. July 21, closing out the fair’s motorsports events.
Five classes and a special section for kids will be included. The super stock, stock, mini street stock and modified mini street stock are for those 16 and older. The youth street class is for those 12-15 years old, and the kids’ power wheels derby will include two classes for kids ages 3-5 and 6-9.
A prize will be awarded to each of the top three winners in each class. However, the modified mini-class will have just one winner, who will go home with $1,000 if more than 15 cars participate in the class. Each kid’s power wheels derby participant will receive a goodie bag.
“The demo derby is expected to have over 60 cars and there were only 28 cars last year,” Starkey said.
Drivers and riders will be charged a $45 fee to participate. Admission to the pit is $25, and admission for children who are 9 or younger is free. Mandatory inspection for the event runs from noon to 4 p.m.