By Arden White | Staff Intern
The Hillsborough County Fair will be celebrating its 22nd year in operation once it opens for the last two weekends in October. The theme for the fair this year is “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams.” It will have its opening day Thursday, Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.
Many people are setting up the fairgrounds, off of Sydney Washer Road, in preparation for this year’s crowd.
“We see about 25,000 people come to enjoy the fair each year,” Tom Umiker, volunteer manager of the fair, said. “It takes about six weeks to set up, and we’ve been planning this year’s activities since last year.”
The fair has two main types of entertainment: talent and arena.
It also houses a variety of competitions, which include FFA night, cooking and horticulture contests, the Hillsborough County Fair 2015 Amateur Talent Show, family living arts and crafts, hay bale decoration, western wear contest, a kid’s coloring contest, mask making, visual arts and a mask making contest.
Some of the contests are still open for eligibility, however, this changes every day, and it’s encouraged to go online or call if interested.
The events for this year’s fair include the Harvest Queen pageant, an antique tractor show, Bay Area Bandits Shooting Club, 4H Foundation barbecue dinner, demolition derby and children’s group tours
Sign-up for events online.
This year, there are a few new activities that visitors couldn’t enjoy before.
“We are really working on expanding from last year,” Umiker said. “We have new historical items and have added in the truck and tractor pull, which I think will be a good source of entertainment.”
The fair also has livestock shows that involve beef cattle, dairy cow, rabbits, goat, lamb, poultry and swine.
“The livestock are a big part of our fair,” Umiker said. “In fact, we take a three-day break from October 25 to October 29 to turn over the livestock area. I think it’s something everyone can enjoy, especially the little kids.”
The fair relies on volunteers to help. The volunteers consist of children, teens and adults.
Although the fair is celebrating its 22nd year, it has only been in the Sydney Washer Road location since 2007.
It first started in the parking lot of what is now Raymond James Stadium.
It then moved to a barn in Brandon for eight years for livestock usage only.
2014 saw the largest expansion of the fair in a single year on the Dover site. The five-day event was expanded to eight.
“We have been enjoying all of the activities our new location allows us,” Umiker said. “I believe our fair is unique because we have a staff made up completely of volunteers and Hillsborough County residents. It’s just the perfect place for the residents to come together, and it’s what an old-fashioned fair is meant to be.”
For further questions about prices, directions, events and contact information go to HillsbouroughCountyFair.com.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR
WHEN: Thursday, Oct 22, to Sunday, Oct. 25, and Thursday, Oct 29, to Sunday, Nov. 1
Monday through Friday: opens at 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: opens at 10 a.m.
COST: $7, adults; $5, students; $4 senior citizens; free for kids 5 and under
WHERE: 215 Sydney Washer Road
INFO: HillsboroughCountyFair.com
DAILY FAIR HAPPENINGS
Historic area antiques
Free interactive area
Sugarcane Mill
Historical district
Cowboy Camp
Eastern Hillsborough Historical District display
Charcoal making
Blacksmith
Hayride ($3)
Scarecrow making ($10)
Eastern Hillsborough Community Band
performance
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct 22
WHERE: Entertainment Tent
COST: Free with fair entrance
EVENTS TO CHECK OUT
WHAT: Extreme Ranch Rodeo
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24
WHAT: Bulls and Barrels
WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
WHAT: Truck and Tractor Pull
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31
WHAT: Demolition Derby
WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1