Special to the Tribune-Star
Martinsville, Ill.
June 18, 2009 06:13 pm
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If you’re looking for family entertainment at a great price, the Martinsville Agricultural Fair is the place to go. Carnival rides will be free starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with purchase of a gate admission ($3 except for Thursday which will be $5).
The Lesters Gospel Quartet will be returning to open the fair on Sunday night with a concert starting at 7. Bring your lawn chairs to sit on the track or sit in the grandstand to enjoy this talented family. The Lesters are a popular group in the Valley and have performed all over the country. An offering will be collected, but there will be no charge for gate admission or the grandstand.
On Monday night, enjoy the Truck and Aspirated Open Tractor Pulls. This event has been a long-standing tradition of the fair.
Motocross will be featured on Tuesday night. Lincoln Trail Motosports will be coordinating the night’s events. A motocross track is being built on the infield of the horse-racing track and will also include a stretch directly in front of the grandstand. This program, including a Jump-Off Competition, promises to provide excitement for spectators. If you are interested in competing in the many classes of competition, call Lincoln Trail Motosports at (217) 932-2041.
Mutton Bustin’ will be introduced to the Martinsville area as a new event on Wednesday along with a FFA Invitational Activity Night. In the Mutton Bustin’ event, children 5 through 8 and weighing less than 65 pounds will compete to see who can ride the sheep for the longest time. Entries must be made at the Secretary’s Office at the fairgrounds by 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The competition will be limited to 20 children and participants’ names will be drawn from the entries at 7 p.m. and announced from the stage in front of the grandstand. FFA teams from Casey, Cumberland, Marshall, Oblong and Martinsville have been invited to compete in the FFA Invitational Activity Night. Come out and cheer for your favorite FFA team as they contend for the top prize in the zany competitions.
There will be scrambles of bunnies and chicks for the younger children and pigs and goats for the older children during the Barnyard Scramble on Thursday. Entries for the scramble events must be made at the Secretary’s Office at the fairgrounds during the week of the fair, but no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The weekend will be filled with automotive sports. On June 26, the popular Flat Track Drags will begin at 7 p.m. Competitors will drag race on the dirt track in front of the grandstands. Any licensed driver can enter to compete. There will be classes for any mode of transportation (cars, trucks, semis, ATVs, motor bikes, lawnmowers, snow mobiles, etc.) The Demolition Derby is planned for June 27 followed by a fireworks show. For information on how to enter the Flat Track Drags or Demolition Derby contact T.E. Promotions at (812) 689-1046 or (812) 621-0259.
Horse racing is a tradition of the Martinsville Fair and is scheduled for Monday through Thursday afternoons, starting at 1 p.m. each day. Monday will feature thoroughbred racing, with harness racing scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday. The Great Midwest Trot and Pace will be featured Thursday.
Traditional fair activities are planned throughout the week, including the action-packed midway filled with the carnival, your favorite food vendors, and displays. Livestock and arts exhibits will be judged and on display throughout the week.
Again this year you’ll want to stop by the “Church Tent” on the east end of the Midway, where area churches will host a program each evening at 6. The FFA tent was a big success last year and is being expanded to include more displays and activities for the children.
The fair will conclude June 27 with the Open Horse Show, Classic Tractor & Garden Tractor Pulls, a Llama Show, and a Horse Pulling Contest during the day. The Bluestreak Boosters will sponsor a Binga of a wide variety of prizes at 10 a.m. in the Arts Hall.
Martinsville Agricultural Fair schedule
Sunday
1 p.m.: Jr. Horse Show
7 p.m.: The Lesters Gospel Quartet in concert
Monday
8 a.m.: Livestock judging (swine and sheep)
1 p.m.: Thoroughbred racing
7 p.m.: Truck and Aspirated Open Tractor Pulls
Tuesday
9 a.m.: Arts Hall judging
1 p.m.: Harness racing
7 p.m.: Motosport Racing — Lincoln Trail Motosports
Wednesday
9 a.m.: Livestock judging (dairy)
1 p.m.: Harness racing
7 p.m.: Mutton Bustin’ and FFA Invitational Activity Night
Thursday
1 p.m.: Harness racing -- Great Midwest Trot & Pace
7 p.m.: Barnyard Scrambles. Note: $5. gate admission; free grandstand
June 26
8:30 a.m.: Livestock judging (beef and steer show)
7 p.m.: Flat Track Drags
June 27
8:30 a.m.: Classic Tractor Pull
8:30 a.m.: Open Horse Show
10 a.m.: Bluestreak Boosters Binga
10 a.m.: Llama Show
11 a.m.: Horse Pulling Contest
1 p.m.: Garden Tractor Pull
7 p.m.: Demolition Derby
* All times CDT
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