The Baxter County Fair is set to return from September 12 to 19, showcasing a blend of community traditions and family-friendly attractions under the theme, “Ribbons, Rides, and America Unites.”
Festivities will kick off with the annual parade on Saturday, September 12, at 10 a.m., starting at Long Chiropractic on Hospital Drive and concluding on 9th Street in downtown Mountain Home. A truck pull event will also be held later that day at the fairgrounds.
Fairgoers will find plenty of entertainment as rides on the midway open Tuesday, September 15. Livestock registration will also take place that evening. Commercial exhibits are scheduled to open on Wednesday, September 16, running from 5 to 9 p.m., and again on Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Live music will feature prominently throughout the fair, beginning Wednesday with the group BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) performing on the outdoor stage from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday evening will bring a performance by FlipSide from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., while the Leslie Williams Band will take the stage Friday, September 18, during the same time frame. The Table Worship Band will wrap up the live performances Saturday evening with a set from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Livestock events begin Thursday morning at 9 a.m. with dairy cattle and dairy goat showmanship, followed by poultry and rabbit judging from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Rabbit showmanship will take place at 3 p.m. in the Critter Barn, while guinea pig judging is scheduled for 4 p.m. An evening market show will feature a variety of animals, including steers, beef cattle, market goats, and lambs, starting at 6 p.m.
Thursday also marks Senior Citizen Day, with free admission sponsored by Troy Garland Insurance, as well as Veterans Day at the Fair, with sponsorship by Jim Brown. A senior bingo bash will be held on the indoor stage from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kid’s Day is set for Saturday, September 19, starting at 10 a.m. and concluding at 2 p.m. Other Saturday highlights include the Parade of Champions in the barn at 1 p.m., where belt buckles will be awarded to winners in various divisions. In the later afternoon, spectators can enjoy a chainsaw contest at 4 p.m., followed by lawn mower races at 5 p.m.
Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students in grades 1 through 12, and free for children five and under. Admission will also be free for all attendees on the evening of Tuesday, September 15. Advanced tickets for carnival rides, armbands, and passes can be purchased at local businesses, area schools, or the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. For more details, visit baxtercountyfair.org.