Monster trucks, Bigfoot returning to Whiteside County Fair

MORRISON – The 153rd Whiteside County Fair opens Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds in Morrison and has many exciting attractions and something for everyone.

On Aug. 13, the evening entertainment is Next Level Pro-Bull Riding starting at 7 p.m. Cheer as cowboys prepare to hang on for eight seconds. Other events starting the fair are the pleasure horse show at 9 a.m., open swine judging at noon and junior swine judging at 4:30 p.m. The kids’ tractor pedal pull starts at 2 p.m.

Next Level Pro-Bronc Riding will be featured at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14. This event will involve a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse (sometimes called a bronco) that tries to throw or buck off the rider before the eight seconds is up. Originally based on the necessary buck-breaking skills of a working cowboy, the event now is a highly stylized competition that uses horses that often are specially bred for strength, agility and bucking ability.

Other events during the day are the exhibition barrels that will start at 8 a.m. and Western horse speed events and dairy judging at 9 a.m.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, the grandstand entertainment will be Full Throttle Monster Trucks featuring the world-famous Bigfoot followed by a fireworks show. Other events that day will start at 9 a.m., with the beef cattle junior show judged in the beef show arena. The heavy horse hitches, including four horses, will be in front of the grandstand at 9 a.m. Heavy horse halter classes start at 1 p.m., also in front of the grandstand.

The Illini State Pullers Association will bring in its tractors and trucks for the tractor pull Friday, Aug. 16. The tractor pull starts at 6:30 p.m., right after the antique tractor parade at 5:30 p.m.

At 9 a.m. that day, the heavy horse hitch classes will be shown in front of the grandstands, and the open beef show will be judged in the beef show arena. At 1 p.m., the heavy horses come back as they thunder in front of the grandstand to entertain with the six horse and unicorn hitches.

The demolition derby is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. The horses are at the post as harness racing is on the track at 1 p.m. Some other events Saturday are the kids tractor pedal pull at 11 a.m. and woodcarving auction at 4 p.m.

The Mega Band is back again this year, and the Wilson Family Show will entertain fairgoers with carnival and midway attractions. Patrons can ride unlimited rides every day of the fair for $60 (if bought in advance the week before the fair at the secretary’s office) or $70 during the fair.

The Granpa Cratchet Stage Show will return this year along with the bike giveaway each day of the fair and the cake/pie walk. Pony rides, a petting zoo, barnyard revue/pig races and camel rides will be at the fair throughout the day, every day.

For information about the fair, visit whitesidecountyfair.org.