Scotty McCreery, Night Ranger, guest at the 2024 Stark County Fair

CANTON – The Stark County Fair features ’80s rock, waffle pizza, a new Ferris wheel and a mullet contest.

With a mix of old classics such as tractor pulling, cattle breeding, Italian sausage rolls and auctions of baked goods, the fair is also celebrating its 175th anniversary with special goods and coins.

“There are family traditions,” said Jill Sterling, the fair’s entertainment chairwoman. “It’s kind of a generational thing on both ends of the fairgrounds. That’s where families come together. On the livestock side and on the commercial side.”

And since the fair runs from Tuesday through September 2nd, you’ll have plenty of time to see everything.

Here are five things you should know about the 2024 Stark County Fair:

1. Night Ranger and Scotty McCreery appear

Long-established music groups will once again perform at the Stark County Fair.

Last year’s Styx concert was a huge success. The classic rock band played in front of a large audience and offered an arena-worthy spectacle.

This year’s musical double act will be Night Ranger on Wednesday and country musician Scotty McCreery on Thursday.

“Sister Christian” and other hits: Night Ranger and Scotty McCreery will perform at the 2024 Stark County Fair

Night Ranger was an MTV favorite in the 1980s with hits such as “Sister Christian” and “When You Close Your Eyes.” Other chart hits included “Sentimental Street” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me.”

McCreery rose to fame after winning the televised singing competition American Idol in 2011, breaking into the country music genre. Also in 2011, he released the platinum-selling album Clear as Day, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 All-Genre Albums chart.

“I think it’s great that we have two concerts to give everyone in town a variety of music,” Sterling said. “We try to keep ticket prices reasonable.”

Tickets can be purchased at https://starkcountyfair.com/. Tickets are $30-$40 for Night Ranger and $30-$50 for McCreery.

Both concerts begin at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased on site.

2. New food vendors at the 2024 Stark County Fair

Food is just as much a part of the festival as the 4-H animals and the grandstand performances.

Tasty foods typically include funnel cakes, fried Oreo cookies, fried vegetables, corn on the cob, steak on a stick, French fries, gyros, mashed potato bowls, homemade oven-baked stromboli, freshly roasted nuts, apple dumplings, strawberry cake, cotton candy, ice cream, caramel popcorn, candied apples, and fried Twinkies.

Returning local and regional classics include Lerch’s Donuts from Wayne County, burgers from George’s Lounge and fish sandwiches from Tim’s Tavern.

Unusual dishes in recent years include deep-fried hot dogs wrapped in a dill pickle and dipped in corn dog batter.

New this year are a handful of vendors, including East Coast Konz, who serve pizza in a bag.

“That’s what we’re excited about,” Sterling said. “It’s totally different. I mean, a pizza in a bag, that sounds great.”

Other new food vendors include A-Town Burgers from Alliance, JD’s Gourmet Hot Dogs from Massillon and one serving Latin American street corn.

Returning are milkshakes made by members of the Junior Fair Board in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and peanut butter flavors. Sterling said she’s heard there might be a new cotton candy flavor this year.

3. New Ferris wheel comes to the Stark County Fair

Kissel Amusement Co., the longtime ride provider for the Stark County Fair, will offer a variety of rides at the fairgrounds. But the company is also bringing a new and larger Ferris wheel-style ride called the Expo Wheel, Sterling said.

The Expo Wheel reaches a height of 75 feet.

Kissel provides rides for many fairs in Ohio and Kentucky, including the Music Express, Zumur, Ali Baba, a fun slide and a carousel. Rides for younger children include cars and a roller coaster.

The rides are open from Tuesday to Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and from Friday to Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The rides are open on Mondays from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased individually for $2 or in books of 10 for $20 and in books of 20 for $30. Wristbands for the rides are also sold. For more information, visit https://starkcountyfair.com/tickets-and-info.

4. When is the Tractor Pull and Demolition Derby at the Stark County Fair?

Tractor pulling is sanctioned by the National Tractor Pullers Association and attracts participants from across the country.

Categories include Grand National Pro Stock and other classes.

Truck and tractor pulling will take place Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12. Pit passes are $12 (show admission not included).

The DerbyDog Demolition Derby is on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 (admission to the fair not included). There is also a Demolition Derby on September 2nd starting at 4:30 p.m. with gates opening an hour earlier.

Tickets are $14 on Sunday and $12 on September 2.

In addition to the Demolition Derby, which includes several categories, there is also a Power Wheels Derby for children.

Tickets can be purchased at https://starkcountyfair.com/entertainment and at the event.

5. There is a mullet contest at the Stark County Fair

This year there is a new competition: Best Mullet.

Yes, that wasn’t a misprint. The trade fair will be holding a competition in the pavilion in honor of the equally popular and frowned-upon hairstyle known as the mullet – long in the back and typically short on the sides, with varying lengths on top.

The hairstyle reached its peak in the ’80s and continued into the early ’90s. Celebrities like country heartthrob Billy Ray Cyrus sported a powerful mullet during his “Achy Breaky Heart” heyday.

The event begins on Sunday at around 1 p.m. The trade fair has asked participants to register in advance.

The competition is designed to be fun and is aimed at both adults and children, Sterling said. Judging criteria include attitude, personality and wardrobe.

“So far, the most recent of my entries was two years old,” she said. “One of the questions on the entry form is, ‘What makes your mullet so special?'”

The Best of the Rest at the Stark County Fair

Here are three more trade fair highlights:

Merchandise for the fair’s 175th anniversary can be purchased online or at the fair. There are T-shirts, hats and coins. “We have some special retro coins because that’s the big thing now,” Sterling said.
The Stark County Band Show is Tuesday, with performances by 11 bands. Canton South begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by McKinley, Minerva, Tuslaw and Louisville high schools. Fairless begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by East Canton, Alliance, Sandy Valley, Marlington and Northwest high schools.
Betting is also back on harness racing. “We encourage everyone to come to the fair and enjoy the feeling of being at the racetrack,” said Sterling. “It’s really amazing to see how many people enjoy betting and watching horses.”

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When you go

What: Stark County Fair

When: Tuesday to September 2nd. The gates open daily at 8am. The fair closes Tuesday to Sunday at 10pm and on September 2nd at 6pm.

Where: 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton

Cost: Tickets are $8 Wednesday through Sunday. Children under 5 are free with an adult every day of the fair. Tickets are $5 on Monday and $6 on Tuesday. Friday is Children’s Day; tickets are $2 for ages 6-17. Veterans and first responders are admitted free on Monday.

Park: Parking is free on the fairgrounds. Lots are available at Seventh Street and Wertz Avenue NW and at the Fourth Street and Wertz entrances. Free shuttles run daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from the parking lots to the fair gates and other select areas.

Further details: https://starkcountyfair.com