The fair begins today and goes through Sept. 19. New events include a ski jump show, a circus during weekdays, exhibitions of dinosaur fossils and a display of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses. These events are free. Mulch said the fair offers educational and entertainment opportunities in a family-oriented environment. The fair also features nine concerts, including LeAnn Rimes, Chris LeDoux and the sold-out Britney Spears concert.
Tickets remain for the other eight shows.
When we booked Britney Spears, she was kind of an unknown. Denny Stoecklein, assistant manager of the fair, said the public is finding it harder to differentiate between country performers, making ticket sales lag behind other music formats. There are so many people out there that it's becoming a hard sell. The fair set an attendance record in two of the past four years. He said the nostalgia of the fair is one reason why people keep coming back.