Schedule of Events
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Repairs were done on 2 barns, a pump house got a new roof, the red domestic building was painted inside, wash racks were painted, memorial benches were refurbished. Intense plans were underway for a beautiful food booth to be located in front of the First Niagara Pavilion. It contains a food preparation area, freezer and storage areas. It is ADA compliant with handicap accessible serving windows.
This is an ongoing project, but definitely a necessary one. Money was donated by her family to honor the adult and the youth who won the most ribbons in the still exhibit categories. In 1969 the first permanent restroom facilities were constructed. The horseshoe pits designed for big league competition were also built. All volunteer work was done by the horseshoe people on their facility.
Fairgrounds & Event Center in Lebanon, Ohio
This review is not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate and therefore should probably not be called a history. It is rather a collection of stories written during the years from 1967 to the present. Many of the happenings have already become somewhat clouded, but the actual growth of the fairgrounds is a story worth writing down.
Another project completed before the fair was the numbering and sealing of the bleachers in the pavilion. We have an outstanding facility of which we can be proud. The Warren County Fair Board is just as committed now as it ever has been to bringing the best fair possible to the people of Warren County. From generation to generation, we have focused on our agricultural heritage. Still a third project was a walkway at the new campground area. A continuing project deals with upgrading electrical service.
Warren County Fairgrounds
In addition to the pavilion, a bridge and the addition of a number of primitive campsites across the road from the fairgrounds was completed and used for the 2011 fair. The campgrounds was named “The Island Campgrounds,” at the suggestion of Mr. and Mrs. Urno Gustafson. Mrs. Gustafson’s father always called that area “the island” because of its location.
Chelsey Toplovich was crowned Warren County Fair Queen, Anna Huffman was first runner-up and Hannah Nickerson was crowned Warren County Junior Miss. This is not a 4-H rule, but a policy of the Warren County Farmers’ Fair. Becoming the 3rd largest county fair in the state did not happen overnight.
Warren County Fair
Twenty years later only nine dairy animals were exhibited and no 4-H projects. The fair became a well organized dairy show in northwestern Pennsylvania. Competitive exhibits and commercial exhibitors increased in number. The first Agricultural Show in the county was a one day event in 1850 at Sugar Grove.
Thanks to good record keeping by the county fair board, dates of construction have been provided. A new building was bought in 2014to provide the entertainment committee an office and to better serve the entertainers that came to our fair. There was lots of painting, planting of flowers and sprucing up the fairgrounds. Our first ever Facebook contest had over 300 participants trying to win tickets to the Tyler Farr Concert. Also, entertaining in the Niagara Pavilion was Lorrie Morgan, Joe Diffie, and Ron Carrington and Touch of Gold.
During the fair it rained most every day and was very hot and humid with temperatures in the 90’s. The headline entertainer in the First Niagara Pavilion was Colin Raye. Other entertainers were Home Free, Little Texas and Thorn Haven.
Bates Brothers Amusements provided rides for all ages. The fair moved into the communications era in 1989 with its first Media Luncheon for the local radio stations, newspapers and other media staff. Now several local stations attend the event and broadcast live at the fair throughout the week. Preferred parking agreements must be signed and paid by June 1st to secure your space for the 2023 Fair. Preferred parking agreements will be emailed in mid-May. Additional parking spaces will be available for purchase after the first weekend in June.
I would like to thank each and every volunteer, exhibitor, patron, vendor and sponsor who has contributed in some form or fashion to the success of this fair over the years. I hope you will take something away from your experience here that will benefit you in a positive way.
In mid-May, campsite agreements will be sent via email and must be completed, signed, and postmarked by June 1st. Payment in full must be received with the agreement to reserve your camp spot. Campsites will be forfeited and offered for auction if payment is not received by the deadline or eligibility cannot be confirmed.
Years of planning, persistence, dedication and hard work by board members and volunteers, going back to 1954 make this great event possible now. Since 1994, the fair has paved much of the grounds, making it very handicap accessible. Sometime later the Warren Fair moved to new grounds at Conewango Avenue Extension and remained there until 1928. So there have actually been four countywide organizations calling themselves county fairs. One was formed in 1851, another in 1874, still another in 1884.
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