The 2023 version of the Clinton County Fair, a premier summer event for local and surrounding residents alike, is set to kick off this weekend and continue all through the following weekend at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.
Fair Board President Mike Matthews is excited about this year’s programs, and especially some additions, many catered for kids to enjoy throughout the entire week.
The fair starts off this Saturday morning with the Baby Show at 10 a.m. with a $5 admission. Also on tap will be the free FFA Day from 10 a.m. to noon.
Saturday evening will mark the return of the Western Horse Show at 7 p.m. with a $5 gate admission.
Two popular, and free, events will be going on at the fairgrounds on Sunday, with the 3rd Annual Car Show from 2-4 p.m. and the Sparkling Stars Pageant beginning at 3 p.m.
A night of pageantry will take center stage on Monday with the annual Beauty Pageants, which get underway at 5 p.m. with a $10 admission.
Tuesday will see the arrival of Casey’s Carnival on the midway and will also be the ever popular Family Night festivities in the main show ring starting at 6 p.m., also a $10 gate admission.
A pair of events will be on tap Wednesday, each starting at 7 p.m. with the return of the ATV Rodeo on the main track and the Lawn Mower Pull on the pull track. Admission is again $10 at the gate.
Thursday night will feature the new event of Bullwhip Rodeo at 7 p.m. with a $12 admission.
Friday, June 23 will see a jam packed night of intrigue and fun, including the Kubota tractor giveaway that starts in the main building at 6 p.m.
The KOTTPA Truck/Tractor Pull will begin a 7 p.m. on the pull track and for those not into pulls, Donkey Ball will be featured in the show ring, also at 7 p.m. Admission on Friday is $12.
The fair will conclude on Saturday, June 24 at 7 p.m. with the Demolition Derby. Gate admission is $15.
Children under two years of age are admitted free, and the price for everyone at the gate includes all carnival rides for all ages.
Matthews previewed many of the programs and highlights of the upcoming fair, noting the western style horse show on Saturday night of this week was making a return after a lot of requests.
The Car Show on Sunday will also see an added Jeep feature, as those vehicles are becoming more popular.
The Sparkling Stars Pageant for special needs individuals, children and adults, is something that Matthews and the fair board is proud to host and be a part of.
He said Kelly Guffey began the event here in Clinton County and the event has since spread to other area county fairs.
The Bullwhip Rodeo, put on by a company from Tennessee, features all types of rodeo entertainment, including bull and bronco busting, barrel races…a little of everything, Matthews said.
Also an added event for the big truck and tractor pull on Friday night will allow local diesel owners to show their stuff with a diesel truck category for local residents to participate in.
The fair board president also expected the final night of the fair–the Demolition Derby–to be a huge draw. He noted that last year, the Clinton County Fair had the largest number of entries for the derby in the entire state and hopes for a repeat of that feat this year.
A couple of new events for children of all ages will also be included this year, one of which is free.
A petting zoo will be open for children an hour prior to each event time through closing.
Also, a Bull’s Bunkers game using pellet guns for bunker games will be open for a fee in the main building on Tuesday through Thursday and again next Saturday. The fee for playing allows unlimited time access.
Matthews also said that all vendor spots, as of late last week, were already sold, and everything from Mexican food to ice cream would be available to fair patrons.
Matthews also noted the main food booth is being operated by the fair board, but in conjunction with the Clinton County 4-H Program. He said the proceeds from the food booth would be split with the 4-H to help sponsor their programs.
Among the free, and often overlooked, parts of the annual fair is the free “special needs day” hosted by the fair board in conjunction with the carnival.
This day allows special needs persons of all ages, individuals or groups, a period of time on one day of fair week to come out and ride rides free and enjoy the day.
Matthews said groups from such organizations as the Horizon Center, nursing home and others come out to participate and have fun.
He noted the free rides and the Sparkling Stars Pageant are special and said it was a blessing to see the smiles on those people’s faces during those events.
The fair board president also noted that the sale of tractor tickets and fair sponsors are their sole means of support in being able to put on the community event each year.
Like any business, the fair board operates on a budget, and Matthews said that the carnival collects 50% of all gate proceeds collected each night of the fair.
He also noted pertaining to the tractor drawing, that the fair board was licensed by the gaming commission and inspectors were on hand at each drawing to assure the public the fair board was “on the up and up.”
“The ticket drawing and our sponsors are our main source (of income),” he said. “It’s a good night if we have enough to pay for all the events and have some left to start with for next year,” he added.
He continued that Clinton was only one of seven or eight counties in the state left that owned its own fairgrounds, thus they have to pay for their own expenses.
Those expenses included a new roof over the bleachers lost by the spring storms, which is now replaced in time for this year’s event.
Matthews and the fair board members invite everyone to come early and stay late and enjoy the 2023 Clinton County Fair.
For more information on any of the fair events, contact a fair board member, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ClintonCoFairKy or their website at www.clintoncofair.com.