FAIR OPENING

 The 2017 Berrien County Youth Fair gates open on Monday, August 14, at 7:30 a.m. with most exhibit buildings ready for viewing by 11 a.m.  Rides, however, will not start until 6:00 p.m. on Monday only.  Tuesday through Saturday, rides start at 11:00 a.m. Office hours during Fair Week are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission gates close daily at 10:00 p.m. Tram service is available from the Yellow Parking Lot located near the Gate 3/Shawnee Entrance from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

BCYF OPENING PRESENTATION OF COLORS & NATIONAL ANTHEM

 As a long standing tradition, showing in the equine area begins at 9:00 a.m. on Monday so they start the week with the presentation of colors and the national anthem between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. on Monday of Fair week.

FAIR KING & QUEEN AND PRINCE & PRINCESS CONTEST DETAILS

 The King and Queen Contest will be held on Friday, August 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Grandstand at the 2017 Youth Fair.  Please note the contest is now held on Friday prior to Fair and admission is FREE.  A king and queen will be selected from the contestants and will represent the Youth Fair at all events during the Fair.  The contestants are ages 16-18.  They must be a resident of Berrien County and a current exhibitor at the Youth Fair.  Lindsay Kay of 97.5 Y-Country will serve as emcee for the program.

A Prince and Princess Contest will be held at 7:00 p.m. before the King and Queen Contest.  Contestants are ages 9-12.  Just as the King and Queen contestants, the Prince and Princess contestants must be a resident of Berrien County and a current exhibitor at the Youth Fair.

Contestants are:

King:

Ryder Zielke, Stevensville

Ben Myers, Hartford

Queen:

Amber Fleisher, Buchanan

Kennedy Melton, Baroda

Lillian Jillson, Buchanan

Serena Sommer, Eau Claire

EVERYDAY IS RIDES WRISTBAND DAY

 Again this year at the Berrien County Youth Fair every day will be RIDES WRISTBAND DAY.   The cost of a wristband is $22 each Monday through Thursday and $25 each Friday and Saturday; with that a person can ride “most” of the rides as often as they want any one day during the fair.  Wristbands may be purchased at the Wade Show Rides Office during the Fair, between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.  Fair admission is not included.  The minimum height requirement for rides is 36 inches.

AL BARBOTT MEMORIAL STAGE IN MALL AREA

 Located in the center of the fairgrounds is the permanent stage, in memory of Past Fair President, Al Barbott.  The stage will provide free entertainment for patrons of all ages.  Surrounding the area are numerous park benches and picnic tables, a perfect place to rest and relax during your visit to the Fair.  This mall area also features a water fountain/planter donated by Glen & Helen Wade of Wade Shows and a large clock was added to this planter; a special memorial stone dedicated to the first BCYF President – Burton Richards. The mall area serves as the location where we proudly display the American Flag, the State of Michigan Flag, and the BCYF Flag in planters made from the Buy-A-Brick fund-raising campaign.  This area is brightly lit in the evening by beautiful street lamps donated in memory of Burton Richards and John Schadt.  The mall area also has a 20×30 concrete dance floor positioned in front of the stage so visitors can dance to the great music. Memorial contributions from Jim Hopkins Sr., Jim Walter and Russ Widdis helped to construct the dance floor.  A gazebo in memory of Joe Zahrn also sits in the mall area.  In 2016 a roof over the mall stage was constructed in memory of Fred Schmaltz.

There will be some special entertainment sponsored by Indiana Michigan Power, Cook Nuclear Plant in the mall area on the Al Barbott Memorial Stage.  PA and lighting equipment was made possible for this stage from Cook Nuclear Plant’s generous “Heart of Cook” grant.

Monday, August 14

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Law Day

Tuesday, August 15

11:00 a.m.

DanceArts Performers

Tuesday, August 15

1:00 p.m.

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