Saline Community Fair Features Traditional and New Activities

The 2018 Saline Community Fair will feature many traditional activities as well as several new ones throughout the fair week, August 29 to September 2.  The parade will be held on August 28 and there will be rides only on September 3.  The fair is held at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor.  There is an exciting line-up of entertainment all week. Check out all the details at www.salinefair.org.  If you have also attended the Manchester Community Fair and/or the Chelsea Community Fair be sure to bring along your “Around the Fairs in 55 Days” passport and turn it in to be eligible for prizes.

The entering of exhibits will take place on Monday, August 27 from 4-8 p.m. and on Tuesday, August 28 from 9 a.m. until noon.  Stop by local businesses to pick up a copy of the fairbook where you will find a variety of categories to enter exhibits.  A digital copy of the fairbook can also be found online.  Anyone interested is invited to enter exhibits. The fair parade will be held in Saline on Tuesday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. beginning at Henne Field and going down Bennett Street. The Boys and Girls Pet Show and the Best Decorated Bicycle Contest will be held prior to the parade at Henne Field. Youth up to age 16 can participate. Registration is at 4:30 p.m. and judging will begin at 5:15 p.m. After judging, participants will walk or ride in the parade.  

Wednesday, August 29 is Agriculture Day and it features the judging of all animals at various times between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.  The Cement Slab Tractor Pull will take place on the track in front of the grandstand throughout the day and evening. A new activity this year is the Inclusion Day special where our special needs friends and their helper will receive free admission until 3 p.m. and there will also be free selected rides for them from 1 to 3 p.m. The Miss Saline Pageant begins at 8 p.m. See who is crowned the 2018 Miss Saline. Many scholarships are also presented to the winners.

Thursday, August 30 is Children’s Day. There will be special activities from 10 a.m. to noon. These include Touch a Truck, Hands on activities, Twist and Shout the Clown, Farm Related Games and Activities, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau Ag Activities, Make Your Own Ice Cream, and Animals. There will also be preschool/toddler ride specials from noon to 3 p.m., and all rides will open at noon.  The Lawnmower Obstacle Course Contest, open to all youth age 10 – 18, begins at 2:30 p.m. The tractor and wagon is provided for this contest. Rounding out the activities on Thursday are the Jr. Livestock Auction at 7 p.m. and another new event, the KOI Drag Racing, also beginning at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand.

Friday, August 31 is Seniors Day and Ladies’ Day and features special admission prices for senior citizens who are free until 1 p.m. and everyone else age 11 and older who are $5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The day starts off with a Euchre tournament at 9:00 a.m., a Draft Horse Pull at 10:30 a.m. and the Princess and Super Heroes Dance Party from Noon to 2 p.m. The Ladies’ Day program and Recognition of Senior Citizens begins at 1 p.m. and the RFD Boys will be providing the entertainment. Another new activity, the Smokin’ W Regulators Mounted Shooting will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. in the lower horse arena. Come out to see this new exciting show and equestrian sport. The 2018 Saline’s Got Talent Contest begins at 7 p.m. and will offer great awards. (Pre-registration was required). The grandstand show on Friday evening at 7 p.m. will feature the Super Kicker Rodeo.  

Saturday, September 1 is Heroes’ Day with Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighters and other nominated heroes admitted free with credentials. The Heroes’ Day program begins at 11 a.m. and will include a light lunch and entertainment provided by the Stronghold Quartet. A Pedal Pull for both youth and adults will be held at 2 p.m. and the Antique Tractor Pull and Farm Stock Tractor Pull and Truck Pull starts off the grandstand events at 9 a.m. Another premier event at the fair is the Foam Dance Party from 6 to 10 p.m. located in its own tent near the midway. The evening grandstand show is the Super Stock and Modified Tractor and Truck Pull which begins at 7 p.m.  At the other end of the fairgrounds under the open pavilion, Magic Joe will be performing at 7 & 8 p.m.   Another full day of family fun.

Sunday, September 2 is Family Day and starts off with Compact Tractor Pulling at 11 a.m.  The Taste of Ag will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and all youth who complete their Ag Passport will be entered to win a bicycle. The Car and Tractor Show will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and entry forms are available on the fair website. There are also many antique tractors on display throughout fair week. The Huron Valley Harmonizers will be strolling the fairgrounds from 2-4 p.m. and performing for the fair visitors. Saline’s own Fiddlers Philharomonic will take the stage and perform at 5 p.m. The fun and excitement continues at 7 p.m. at the grandstand with the USA Auto Cross Enduro Derby. The Bicycle drawing will be held at 7 p.m.  followed by the Merchants drawings at 8 p.m., the Saline Rotary Club Steer Drawing at 8:30 p.m. and the release of still exhibits at 9 p.m.  Twelve bikes will be given away to lucky winners. Entry forms can be deposited throughout fair week into corresponding containers located with the bikes in Building C on the fairgrounds. The forms are on the website and available at local sponsors and at the fair. Winners do not need to be present.  

There are many other activities taking place throughout the week. In addition to exhibits, inside and outside displays and animals, the Adventures in Agriculture Barn will be open all week and the Farmer for a Day activity area will provide fun for kids. Area businesses will have displays throughout the fairgrounds and there will be a variety of food booths. Several Saline Area School administrators and staff, along with Saline present and past elected officials will be in the Saline FFA Dunk Tank throughout the week. The Beer Barn will be open Thursday through Sunday evening and will offer live entertainment on several nights. Elliott’s Amusements will provide the carnival rides throughout the week and pre-fair ride specials are available on their website at www.Elliottsamusements.com under the Saline Fair tab. Mega Ride passes are also available at Busch’s in Saline.  The Saline Community Fair and Elliott’s Amusements have also teamed up with the Saline District Library and the Milan Public Library to provide free ride or concession coupons to those who are eligible for prizes by participating in their summer reading programs. Check with the libraries for details on the “Read to Ride” program.

On Monday, September 3 all the exhibits and displays will be gone, but a few activities will take place. The Antique Cement Slab Tractor Pull will begin at 10 a.m. in front of the grandstand and carnival rides only will be open from 1 to 6 p.m.

Visit the fair website at www.salinefair.org for information on admission and ride prices, as well as specials for each day.  For the second year there is the availability of a Fair Fun Pass which will cover general fair admission and admission to all grandstand events for fair week.  Activity details and a complete schedule are also available on the website. Many local businesses also have fairbooks and fair schedules.  The many volunteers who make the Saline Community Fair possible hope to see you at the fair.

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