Grundy County Fair opens Wednesday

MORRIS – Another sign that things are returning to normal is coming up this week, as the Grundy County Fair will take place from Wednesday through Sunday.

The Grundy County Fair has taken place annually for more than 100 years. For many, it has become a family tradition featuring entertainment, racing and livestock exhibitions, according to the Grundy County Fair website, grundycountyfair.org.

At the Grundy County Speedway, racing events will include Illini State Pullers tractor and truck pulling on Thursday and the Carter Memorial Midseason Championship on Friday, which showcases “the Midwest’s best stock car racing,” according to the website.

The fair will feature a new carnival, presented by Fundways Entertainment. The carnival will be open every day of the fair. It will open at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with $25 wristbands. On Saturday and Sunday, the carnival will open at noon with $25 wristbands good from noon to 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., the rides will be regular price.

The fair’s full schedule can be found at grundycountyfair.org/daily-program. Daily highlights include

• 6 p.m. Wednesday: the WCSJ Talent Show

• 5:30 p.m. Thursday: the Illini State Pullers tractor and truck pulling

• 7 p.m. Friday: the Carter Memorial Midseason Championship

• 9:30 p.m. Saturday: the Grundy Bank and city of Morris fireworks extravaganza

• 11:30 a.m. Sunday: the inaugural “Fair Time” Bags Tournament

Also throughout the run of the fair will be an escape room in which participants are superheroes working together to solve puzzles and capture supervillains. For information and to register online for the escape room, go to grundycountyfair.org/mobile-room-escape. The escape room will take place rain or shine; no refunds will be given to those who miss or are late for the start time, according to the website.

Another new feature at the fair will be axe throwing, which costs $5 for five axes and $8 for 10 axes and is restricted to those older than 10. Those wishing to throw axes will be guided by an axe master, who will help them learn to throw and practice aim, power and trajectory of their throw. The fair will offer axes of different weights and sizes. More information can be found at grundycountyfair.org/mobile-axe-throwing.

On Saturday, Grill Master’s Trackside Grill will host a wing-eating contest at 1 p.m., followed by a doughnut-eating contest at 1:30 p.m.

There will be live entertainment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Friday night, the band Anthem will perform starting at 9 p.m., featuring classic rock and beyond. Before and after the fireworks on Saturday, starting at 8:30 p.m., will be the band Southern Draw. On Sunday, live performances will be given by Tamborazo Rancho Bonito at noon and Los Luceros de Joliet at 3:30 p.m., followed by Ballet Folklórico Infinity, a traditional Mexican dance show, at 5:30 p.m.