CHELSEA, MI — The Chelsea Community Fair offers fairgoers a chance to see animal shows, livestock judging and a long list of events.
Fairgrounds gates open for general admission at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the fairgrounds at 20501 Old US 12 and runs through Saturday, Aug. 27.
Here’s what you need to know about the fair, including a list of some of the events you can expect throughout the week. A full schedule of events and more information can be found on the Chelsea Community Fair website.
Acceptance and transition
All fairgoers older than 10 years old must pay to enter the fair. Children 10 years and older enter for free.
A day pass can be purchased for $10 and allows the pass holder to enter the grounds all day, experience activities taking place in the grandstand area and access free parking.
A season pass can be purchased for $30 and allows the passholder to enter the fair any time during the week. The pass also allows parking in the fairgrounds and access to activities taking place in the grandstand area.
A student/senior/veteran pass will be available for $20 and allows students with high school or high school IDs, seniors 65 and older, and veterans with military IDs to enter and experience all activities at the fair every week.
All 65 and over get in free before 5pm on Senior Day Thursday, August 25.
Admission before 11 a.m. on Ladies Day Friday, Aug. 26, is $5. It’s also Family Day from 11am to 3pm, with families getting in for free. And it’s also Military Day, with past and present service members with their military ID cards getting in for free.
Time for a fun walk
- 3pm to close on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24-25.
- Noon to close Friday, August 26.
- Saturday, August 27: 1:00pm to close on Saturday, August 27
Events on Tuesday, August 23:
Children’s Fair Parade at 5:30 p.m
For more than four decades, the Children’s Fair Parade officially marks the beginning of the Chelsea Community Fair.
The tradition is for young children, ages 3 to 12, to walk or ride their decorated bikes or wagons from downtown Chelsea to the fairgrounds where there are games and events ready for kids ages 4 to 10 years old.
Children participating in the parade can enter their decorated bikes, wagons or equipment in a race that begins before the parade at 5 p.m.
The parade starts on the town hall lot behind the Common Grill, 112 S. Main St., and will go west on West Middle Street to Grant Street. The parade will then turn left on Grant Street and continue on Pierce Street and then right on Taylor Street, cross Old US 12 and then down Chelsea-Manchester Street at the lower gate at the fairgrounds .
Tricycle drag event
Immediately following the parade is the tricycle pull event at the Multi-Purpose Arena. Children ages 3 to 5 can participate and receive a ribbon and ride ticket if they participate.
Prizes will be awarded for each age category.
Figure 8 The demolition derby
At 19:30, fairgoers can watch the Figure 8 Demolition Derby. The Derby has a limit of 50 cars without prior registration.
Wednesday, August 24
Three-match demolition derby plus a feature
One of the big events of the day will be the Demolition Derby at 19:30 where participants have a chance to win prizes.
Thursday, August 25
There is a horse pull at 11:00 a.m. in the main arena and a Kiddies Pedal-Power tractor pull at 1:00 p.m. in the multi-purpose arena.
Livestock auction starts at 19.00
Rodeo of the Lost Nations
A full, professional rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. in the main arena and includes events such as barrel racing. To learn more about the Lost Nations Rodeo, visit its Facebook page.
Friday, August 26
Women’s Day Program
Ladies Day is set for 9 to 10:30 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. and registration for the event begins at 8:30 a.m.
This year’s theme is Queen for a Day and those interested can dress for the theme to be entered into a special drawing for a prize. The event will feature refreshments, door prizes and goody bags for the first 150 people to register who are 18 or older.
Crowning of Chelsea Fair Queen
This year, the fair will crown its queen at 7 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Arena on the south side of the fair.
Tractor pull
The tractor pull starts at 7pm in the main arena.
Saturday, August 27
Events include a compact tractor pull at 8:30 a.m. and a truck pull at 7 p.m. Both are in the main fairgrounds arena.
Chelsea Fair Parade
The parade begins at 1 p.m. on a route that runs west on East Middle Street, starting at South East Street south to Main Street west to Old US 12, ending at Old Manchester Road.
Show sweepstakes
The raffle show starts at 7pm in the multi-purpose arena where animals compete against each other to win prizes.
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