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Events on the Grounds

We are excited to bring exciting and family-friendly events to Van Wert County!

Check out what’s coming up next! Download our event flyer to your phone to stay in the know all year long! Event details are subject to change, please contact our office with questions – 419-238-9270

Spring Mom-2-Mom Sale

March 9, 2024

Imagine a building filled to the brim with gently used children’s clothing, toys, accessories and more from area moms just like you. Find your next bargain at the Spring Mom-to-Mom Sale! Want to set up a table? Give our office a call at 419-238-9270 or download the contract below.

Reverse Raffle

March 23, 2024

A night full of fun and excitement! Join us for the Van Wert County Agricultural Society’s Biggest Fundraiser of the year! Join us for a fun night and a chance to win big prizes! Enjoy dinner catered by Gibson’s BBQ, games, silent and live auction items, plus a 50/50 drawing! Tickets are available for purchase by stopping in the Fair office or from a Fairboard Director. Limited number available, so act fast!

Van Wert on Tap

March 30, 2024

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring the best regional breweries to Van Wert, Ohio for their 2nd Annual craft beer festival.

Enjoy unlimited tastings of selected wine and craft beer from some of the best breweries in the region  Food trucks will be onsite. Event information and ticket pricing is still coming together but be sure to check out Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Celebrate the Solar Eclipse in Van Wert!

April 8, 2024

Eclipse Facts:

  • The last solar eclipse in Ohio was in 1806
  • Only 15 visible in the US since 1867
  • Last one until 2044
  • Next one in Ohio – 2444
  • Will travel across Van Wert County – starting 1:54 pm ending 4:27 pm. Totality 3:08 – 3:12
  • We will experience full darkness!

Throughout Van Wert county, you can expect family-friendly activities, entertainment, shopping and more. We can’t wait to be your lodging choice at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds for this unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Trinity Friends Church will be joining us with an onsite non-denominational Christian Worship Service held Sunday, April 7th, at 10:30 AM in the Agricultural Building

Clean up Green up

April 27, 2024

Community members are invited to join 4-H members, Senior and Junior Fair Board members in cleaning up the fairgrounds for the upcoming year’s events. Tasks will be assigned upon arrival. There is something for everyone!

Spring Fest

May 3-4, 2024

Spring Fest is held in early spring to start prepping your beautiful outside lawn and garden! Come visit us at Spring Fest for plant sales of annuals and perennials, various demonstrations, food trucks, craft vendors, a car show, campers, pony rides, and more! Friday May 3rd, 4:00-9:00pm and Saturday May 4th, 10:00am-7:00pm. 

Flat Track Motorcycle Racing

June 1, 2024

Amateur motorcycle racers with classes that include 50cc, 65cc, 85cc, Supermini, 2501m, 450am, Open am, Open Vintage, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, Open Singles, Open Money and Hooligan National Race.

*$10 admission. Concession Stand available

5th Annual Kevin “Pea-Vine” Anspach Memorial Horse Show

June 7-8, 2024

  • Guaranteed Added $$
  • Event is Rain or Shine
  • Class payback is 60% with 5 to Fill Class with 6 or more entries – NO REFUNDS
  • Camping – $25/weekend
  • Stalls – $20/weekend (must bring your own shavings)

Freedom Truck Meet – Hosted by Cole Motors

June 14-15, 2024

Fun for the whole family! Show and shine, dirt drags, monster truck rides, burnout contest, Dyno, cruise route, DJ, on-site camping, power wheels racing, food vendors, meet & greets and more! A portion of the proceeds gets donated to Riley Children’s Cancer Foundation. Learn more about this event by visiting colemotorstruckmeet.com/

*Admission Price varies with options

Carry in coolers are allowed. Alcohol is allowed, but no glass of any kind. General admission passes will get you anywhere on the grounds other than the pits. A separate $10 pit pass must be purchased and waiver signed at the events sign up table. Use common sense! We are here to have a good time, but anyone caught doing burnouts, donuts, or any other form of reckless driving on the grounds will be told to leave immediately. Revving engines is 100% ok! Quiet time on the grounds will be from 12:00am to 6:00am. Waiver & Release Liability By reference of the Cole Motors Freedom Truck Meet.

By reference of the Cole Motors Freedom Truck Meet. By use of this ticket and attendance at the Van Wert County Fair, Holder (on behalf of Holder and any minor accompanying Holder) acknowledge and assumes all risks and dangers incidental to the Van Wert County Fair as it relates to contracting COVID-19. Holder agrees that none of the Van Wert County Fair, Fair Board members, Junior Fair Board members, the participating exhibitors, and any other Van Wert County Fair owners, partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, customers, purchasers, independent contractors, licenses, sponsors, vendors, volunteers, successors and assigns, or the Van Wert County Agricultural Society (the “Release Parties”), shall be responsible or liable or liable for the Holder or result of such risks or dangers.

BY ATTENDING THE VAN WERT COUNTY FAIR, HOLDER (ON BEHALF OF HOLDER AND ANY MINOR ACCOMPANYING HOLDER) IS DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN A FULL RELEASE OF LIABILITY TO THE RELEASED PARTIES. IF HOLDER DOES NOT WISH TO OR IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO GRANT ALL THE RIGHTS, RELEASES AND WAIVERS SET FOURTH IN THIS TICKET ON BEHALF OF ANY ACCOMPANIED MINOR(S) OUT OF THE FAIRGROUNDS

Open class all vehicles allowed. Burnouts will be stationary on the big cement pad directly in front of the grandstands and not on the tiny POS pad like it was in 2020. Each vehicle will be timed and given up to 1 minute once stationary on the burn out pad. Judging will consist of 4 pre chosen judges that will have score cards on a 1-10 scale and those scores will be added together and tallied. The top 3 scores will place and be paid out accordingly. Rules subject to change. No passengers allowed.

Dirt Drag Daily Driver Street Class Rules

Each truck will be allowed 2 practice runs before competition racing starts. Competition will either be bracket style or round robin double elimination. Professional style Christmas tree lights.

This class is meant to be for daily driver trucks and SUVs.(Tech officials will have all rights to remove any trucks from the class that they deem not to be a daily driver) Trucks must be street legal that have valid plates and registration. Dot approved tires, all lights must be in working order, Ladder/traction bars are allowed. Tuners and aftermarket exhausts are allowed, Factory turbo/turbos and superchargers are allowed. No nitrous or any other injected power adders are allowed. Removal of headlights or any other body components before racing is prohibited.  Passengers are allowed. Seatbelts must be worn for every person in the vehicle. Rules are subject to change.

DIRT DRAG MODIFIED CLASS RULES

Each truck will be allowed 2 practice runs before competition racing starts. Competition will either be bracket style or round robin double elimination. Professional style Christmas tree lights.

This class is meant to be for modified street/strip trucks and SUVs.(Tech officials will have all rights to remove any trucks from the class that they deem not to be fit for the class) Trucks must be factory full bodied but hollowed beds and stripping interior etc. to cut weight is allowed. Current plates or registration is not required. Dot approved tires, all lights must be in working order, Ladder/traction bars are allowed. Tuners and aftermarket exhausts are allowed, Turbos and superchargers are allowed. Nitrous and other injected power adders are allowed. Passengers are allowed. Seatbelts must be worn for every person in the vehicle. Rules are subject to change.

More classes may be added depending on demand.

Old Fashioned Farmer Days

July 4 – 6, 2024

Featuring Minneapolis Moline tractors and equipment, B.F. Avery Tractors, Simplicity Garden Tractors.

Look forward to antique tractor pulls, camping, live music, car show, garden tractor pulls, a flea market, kiddie and adult pedal pulls, food vendors, animal land, machinery demonstrations and more! Visit www.oldfashionedfarmersdays.com.

*Paid Admission

Railroad Heritage Weekend – Model Railroad Show & Swap

July 27-28, 2024

Head to the Fairgrounds on July 27-28 to enjoy the Model Railroad Show & Swap during the Railroad Heritage Weekend
  • Vendor tables
  • Operating Layouts
  • Food Court
  • Over 200 vendor tables are available.
  • Admission:
    • $6 for Adults
    • $8 for two-day admission
    • Children 12 and under are FREE!
  • Free stuff for the kids
  • Handicap accessible
Show Information Contact/Tables: Chuck White @ 260-760-1666 or email: railcarman@frontier.com.

*Paid Admission

127 Garage Sale

August 1-4, 2024

The World’s Longest Yard sale. People set up all over, from all over, selling items and treasures! We have over 250 vendors that are set up at our over 400 vendor locations, with open locations remaining for new coming vendors. During this event, we offer camping spots for vendors and travelers!

The World’s Longest Yard Sale
The 127 Yard Sale is commonly referred to as “The World’s Longest Yard Sale”. That’s because it really is the longest yard sale in the world. To be exact, it’s 690 miles long and the route travels through 6 states; Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. The majority of the route follows Highway 127 from Addison, MI in the north to Chattanooga, TN in the south. From Lookout Mountain, GA to Gadsden, AL the route switches to Lookout Mountain Parkway. Both are scenic drives allowing you to appreciate the beautiful countryside of these states all while enjoying the fun and excitement of The World’s Longest Yard Sale.

*Free Admission

Bluegrass Festival

September 26-28, 2024

Multiple bands, food and concessions, corn hole tournament, wagon rides, raffles, kids activities, and pony poker. Pets are allowed on leash! Camping available. 

*Paid Admission price varies – weekend pass available!

Singer-songwriter Steve Scott, Sr., comes from a musical family. As a young man he was introduced to bluegrass music by his father, Albert Scott. The two of them formed the Bluegrass Gospel-Aires and performed in several states throughout the 1970s. Upon Albert’s passing in the early 1980s, Steve went on to perform in several other bands, all the while introducing and teaching bluegrass music to his sons and nephew.  Eventually, they banded together and formed Steve Scott & The Scott Brothers featuring Steve Sr. on guitar and lead vocals, his sons Stevie Scott on banjo and vocals and Brian Scott on mandolin and vocals, along with nephew Israel Daniels on bass. The band is a crowd favorite wherever they appear. In addition to Steve’s skills as a bandleader he is also a well-known bluegrass promoter in NW Ohio, operating the Bluegrass Opry Barn at Oakwood (Paulding County), as well as promoting the Van Wert County Bluegrass Festival which is presented at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, held the third weekend of September every year.

Stateline Smack Down Open Beef Show

October 6, 2024

Stateline Smack Down open beef show at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Showmanship, breeding heifers, and feeder calves.

Harvest Happenings, Dairy Barn Emporium & Apple Festival

October 18-19, 2024

Who doesn’t love FALL? Join us at the Fairgrounds for one of our most popular events. This weekend is actually three separate events on the grounds, but one great experience. Lots of lovely craft vendors, food vendors, APPLES, apple ciders and sweet treats!

*Free Admission

Fall Mom 2 Mom

November 2, 2024

Imagine a building filled to the brim with gently used children’s clothing, toys, accessories and more from area moms just like you. Find your next bargain at the Fall Mom-to-Mom Sale!