Manchester Community Fair getting ready to kick off with old traditions, new events

Previous Manchester Community Fair. Mirror file photo.

by Marsha Chartrand

“Michigan’s Biggest little fair” is ready and rarin’ to go for the week of August 6 through August 10. Lots of new events are planned and lots of traditional events are ready to return.

Tuesday kicks off the week with the parade beginning at 6:30pm. Prizes will be awarded for decorated floats, golf carts, and bicycles this year. Organizers ask that decor follow the parade theme, “Make It Manchester.” The prizes for floats are $150 for first place, $100 for 2nd place, and $75 for 3rd.; Golf carts prizes are $75, $50, and $25; and bike prizes are $15, $10, and $5. Line up is on Adrian Street between Duncan and Territorial. The parade will follow a reverse route this year and end at the fairgrounds (see map below). Crowning of the fair queen will follow the parade,  followed by a car/tractor show, then steer judging will begin at 8pm. The nightly drawing is held every night at 9:30pm. “We have a lot of new stuff this year for the drawing,” Angie Schaible Fuller, Manchester Community Fair secretary, said.

Wednesday will feature compact tractor pulls — both classic and antique. Also returning this year after being gone for some time is the pony pulls. The beer tent will host a cover band, the Phoenix Theory. They are popular locally and can be seen at the Beach Bar as well as other local spots. Lamb judging and swine judging will start at 8pm on Wednesday.

Big news this year includes that on Thursday, admission is free for everyone! This new feature is thanks to sponsors — American One Credit Union, Teijin Automotive, and Chelsea State Bank. Organizers hope this will bring a lot of people to the fair that day. Everyone who enters will also receive a ticket for a chance to win prizes. Thursday is a busy day. New this year on Thursday there will be a craft/farmers market from 4pm to 7pm. Fuller states that there will be lots of vendors on site — some local, some not — and “there will be a large selection of things to buy.” Another event returning this year is the battle of bands, which will be held in the beer tent. Fuller states that many bands have signed up. The animal auction is Thursday at 7:30pm and farm stock tractor pulls will be going on all day. On Thursday there will also be a senior citizens’ program at noon with lunch served and bingo and prizes to follow.

Friday sees the return of the Demo Derby. The beer tent will feature live music with the evening kicking off with the Guitar Guild, a student band with Manchester’s own Henry Budd performing.

Saturday is another busy day, starting with Ladies’ Day at 10am. Saturday is also Kids’ Day, which will be rodeo-themed. It will include junior bull riding and rodeo-themed games with prizes. There will be a cornhole tournament at 2pm with registration at 1pm. The Kids’ Day prize drawing will be at 5pm. Saturday will also have pedal pulls and the rodeo to finish it off. Manchester’s own Grant Reiff and the Riflemen will be performing in the beer tent after the rodeo.

Gate admissions this year is $5 on Tuesday and Wednesday, free on Thursday, $10 on Friday, and on Saturday it will be $5 from 9am to noon and $10 from 12:01pm to close. An adult season pass is $25. Children 5 and under are free.

Come on down and have some good old-fashioned Manchester fun at Alumni Field August 6–10. See some smiling faces, eat the famous fair food, ride some of the best rides you’ll find locally, and enjoy “Making it Manchester” this year!

This year’s Fair Parade route.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.