The Darke County Fair is nearly here! Can you believe another summer is almost over? Do you have your favorites already in a list – places you must visit and food you must try while you are at the fairgrounds? The rituals of the end of summer are upon us!
Enjoy the Great Darke County Fair this week – entitled the greatest county fair on earth, this year is the 160th event year. The fair was started in 1852 when Dr. I.N. Gard was named chief executive officer and ably led by such men as George Coover, Alfred Kitchen and Noah Arnold to realize the dream and plan for an agricultural fair for the following year. And so it came to pass that on a Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7 and 8 of 1853, Darke County indeed had a fair of its own. Greenville, as the county seat, was selected for geographic reasons and thus the initial fair was held on the grounds immediately east of Garst museum.
Three times since the fair’s 1853 inception the event was cancelled: 1862 and 1863 the fair was cancelled because the county was embroiled in pitting brother against brother in the Civil War; and again in 1949 due to the outbreak of polio in the county and surrounding area. What’s your favorite exhibit, food, entertainment? Perhaps you have a 4-H’er, band member, or cheerleader you will be supporting or have entered exhibits in the Fine Arts or Domestic Arts, FFA, or one of the livestock barns; whatever your reason for attending the fair make it one of the best ever! Best of luck to all of the youth exhibitors at the fair; it will be a memory of a lifetime that you will tell your children and grandchildren about in years to come.
While you are there don’t forget to support your local vendors that work the fair. The Arcanum A# Music Boosters invites you to come visit them at the fair. The A# Music Boosters and their food concession have been a fixture at the Darke County Fair for a little over 40 years. They are still in the same location next to the miniature golf course, and there is still seating available under the tent. As always they will serve their wonderful sandwiches, French fries, kid’s meals, and Mehaffie’s pies. See you at the A# Tent! Be sure to stop by and support our youth while you are at the fair! The A# Tent at the Darke County Fair is celebrating their 45th year this year. Did you know that the A# Tent was started for the 1971 fair by the A# Club? That first year included nightly concerts at the back of the tent by the AHS Stage Band with lots of rhythm and blues hits arranged by Ronnie Ball, the band director at that time.
At the fair you might look forward to a lemonade shakeup from Martin’s Old Fashioned Lemonade, an elephant ear from Chuck’s Foods, or a Farmer Brown and some Just Ice Cream; or just be there to see old friends, enjoy and make some memories. Enjoy the Darke County Fair! What’s your favorite must have to eat? What’s your favorite activity you just have to see? Good luck to all the youth exhibitors, may you win that blue ribbon you have been working so hard for all year!
The Arcanum High School Department of Athletics would like announce athletic pass prices for the 2016-17 fall and winter seasons. Student passes are $35 for both fall and winter seasons and $20 for fall or winter. Adult passes are $100 for both seasons and $85 for one. Family passes will also be available for individuals who reside in the same household and can be purchased at $200 for both seasons and $150 for one season. Persons 65 or older will receive free admission to events. “Pass Plus” passes will be available again this year. Fall “Pass Plus” includes admission into the high school football game and reserved seating. Fall “Pass Plus” for an individual is $30, $15 for age 65 or older, and $15 per person for a family. Winter “Pass Plus” for high school boys and girls basketball will not be available until after November 15th. Prices are $80 for an individual, $40 for age 65 or older, and $40 per person for family. Athletic passes will be available to purchase on the following dates: Today from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the high school cafetorium; and Aug. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the ticket gate of the high school volleyball match vs. Fort Recovery. For more ticket information, please contact the Arcanum Athletic Department at 937-692-5032.
“The Great Darke County Fair is like a holiday. I look forward to it all year long to go back again and see old friends and savor the food delights! Even though, year after year, we do the same things, it never disappoints.” ~anonymous
