Top 5 Things You Can't-Miss at the 91st Annual Lake County Fair
By: Jonathan Jones 07/16/2019
The smell of funnel cakes in the air can only mean one thing: the 91st annual Lake County Fair is just around the corner! "Summer's Best Fest" has returned for its ninth decade (plus one) of family fun at the Grayslake facility.
From livestock barns and competitive exhibits to motocross and demo derbies, from live musicians to Lake County local talent and from fabulous food to thrilling Midway rides, the 91st annual Lake County Fair has fun for the entire family.
New for this year's edition of the fair is a second entry gate. The original gate is in the same location as prior years in the concrete parking lot. Now in the northeast corner for grass parkers, there is now a second area of entry.
Visitors to the annual fair can receive a souvenir glass from the Grayslake mainstay.
There’s so much you can explore at the fair every year, but these are five things you can’t miss at the 91st annual Lake County Fair from Wednesday-Sunday, July 24-28.
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1. Taste of the Fair
Brand spanking new for the 91st annual Lake County Fair, move over Taste of Chicago, because the Grayslake fairgrounds has it's own foodie frenzy. The Taste of the Fair encourages vendors to serve small prix fixe plates of their signature items at a reduced price.
There will be an indication of each fare vendor that is participating in this tasty event. The fairgoers who devour your fare will vote on their favorite fourth-sized plates.
The winning vendor of the event will be announced on Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. and the feather flag donning them as top dog of the munchy event. Bon appétite Lake County
2. 4-H Demonstrations/Ag Adventure presented by the Lake County Farm Bureau
The Lake County Fair 4-H youth members individually or with a team member give a presentation of their agriculture education project. These bright students provide visual aids like posters and digital exhibitions to show audience members and judges their expertise on the subject matter they’ve chosen. Some of the demonstrations include preparing a cooked dish, grooming/raising an animal, etc. Another experience for the youngsters is the Ag Adventure presented by the Lake County Farm Bureau located in the Expo Hall. This interactive, miniature farm gives children the chance to be farmers for a day. Here is a schedule for the 4-H demonstrations and Ag Adventures at the 91st Annual Lake County Fair:
Wednesday, July 24
- Milking Competition: 7 a.m.
- Dairy Cattle Judging Jr. Show: 9 a.m.
- Swine Judging Jr. Show: 9 a.m.
- Ag Adventure: 11 a.m.-7 p.m
- Small Pet Demonstration: 11 a.m.
- Swine Judging: Market Show: 1 p.m.
- Poultry Demonstration: 2 p.m.
- Steer Judging Open & Jr. Show: 4 p.m.
- Milking Competition: 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 25 - Sheep Judging: Open & Jr. Show: 9 a.m.
- 4H Goat Show: 9 a.m.
- Lamb Judging: Market Show 11 a.m.
- Ag Adventure: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Lambs Farm's Creature Feature: Noon
- Dairy Goat Judging Jr. Show: 1 p.m.
- Swine Judging Open Market Show: 1 p.m.
- Livestock Costume Contest: 5 p.m.
Friday, July 26 - Goat Judging Open & Market Shows: 9 a.m.
- Dairy Cattle Judging: Open Show: 9 a.m.
- Ag Adventure: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Lambs Farm's Creature Feature: Noon
- Crazy Cow Relay Races: 2 p.m.
- Cheese Making Demonstration: 4 p.m.
- Bee Demonstration: 4 p.m.
- Milking Demonstration: 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 - Small Pet Demonstration: 11 a.m.
- Ag Adventure: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Lambs Farm's Creature Feature: Noon
- 4H Hands-on Fair 1-3 p.m.
- Livestock Auction: 2 p.m.
- Bee Demonstration: 5 p.m.
- Mead Making Demonstration: 6 p.m.
- Milking Demonstration: 6:30 p.m.
- Dog Demonstration: 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 28 - Ag Adventure: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Small Pet Demonstration: 11 a.m.
- Lambs Farm's Creature Feature: Noon
- Dog Demonstration 1 p.m.
- 4-H Goat Obstacle Course: 2 p.m.
3. Pro Rodeo Stampede/Demo Derbies/Monster Truck Show
Fuel your passion for revved-up action and get a taste of the wild west with the demolition derbies, Monster Truck Show and the Pro Rodeo Stampede in the Grandstand. Smash enthusiasts can enjoy the nonstop action while marveling at the brute force of organized chaos and destruction of a demolition derby and Monster Truck Show by Monster Truck Racing League. The smash fest or monster/ demo derbies feature cars getting totaled by even bigger cars! We'll see on Friday and Sunday what car last the longest as a variety of vehicle classes bully each other at the Grandstand like power wheels, hot wheels, lawnmowers, school buses, trucks and many more types of vehicles. Attendees can view cars of all kinds play a smashing role in each other’s destruction. The Monster Truck Show is Wednesday-Thursday, July 24-25, while the Demolition Derby is Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Pro Rodeo Stampede takes place on Saturday, July 27 at 2 and 7 p.m. The rodeo presented by Big Hat Rodeo has attendees exclaim “Yeehaw!” as these cowgirls and boys demonstrate bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, saddle-bronc riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling and so much more. These rodeo professionals work with one goal, “make every performance the wildest, most exciting and fun it can be.” Also new for 2019, rodeo viewers can sip on margarita's on Saturday from 2-5 p.m.
4. Unique Fair Fare
Each year the Lake County Fair blesses our bellies with delicious eats. Here are a few of the unique Lake County local bites that are gracing the Grayslake grounds this year. The fair has added even more fare vendors to this year's edition of the festivities.
- Helen & Sons: Famous Salt Water Taffy
- Andersons Candy from Richmond: Chocolate bars, truffles, brittles, toffee, sponge candy, pretzels, donuts popcorn, fudge and more.
- Funnel Cakes
- Gator on a stick
- Wonderstick: Churros filled with ice cream
- Angry Bull Nitrogen Ice
5. Timberworks Lumberjack Show
The Lake County Fair has been carving out innovation for years. That's why the Timberworks Lumberjack Show returns to the Grayslake staple. Logrolling, axe throwing, speed carving and climbing are just a few of the featured performances in this woodsy event. These connoisseurs of timber utilize traditional and modern lumberjack techniques as they also mix in a touch of comedy and history lessons. This is a can't miss, especially when they begin lumber sculpting. The lumberjacks go to work Wednesday-Saturday at 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
5 Things You Can't-Miss at the 91st Annual Lake County Fair - Honorable Mentions
Of course, there are a plethora of breathtaking, mouthwatering, critter-petting, dance-moving endeavors you can embark on, so here are a few honorable mentions to our 5 things you can’t miss at the 91st Annual Lake County Fair list.
- Banana Derbies
- Ham Bone Express Pig Racing
- Midway Carnival Rides
- Motocross
- Live entertainment from bands like 7th Heaven, Brecken Miles, Too White Crew, Saddlebrook and Libido Funk Circus and more.
- Bloody Mary Bingo, Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Canine Stars: Dog diving canine stunt show
- Street Drum Corps 2-10 p.m. daily
For more information about the 91st annual Lake County Fair, continue here. Stay tuned for our top 5 fair eats coming soon. For other Lake County fests, click here.
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