toledoblade.com --

Hey, look — here comes the 2009 parade of county fairs.

There’s the truck pull and the demolition derby. Mechanical rides and Buffo the world’s strongest clown. The frog-jumping contest and stick-horse races. People spitting watermelon seeds and tossing fry pans. Mud wrestlers and wet cheerleaders. Poultry and ponies. Baked goods and needlepoint. Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Julianne Hough, Eddie Money, the Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels Band, and the Pemberville Hot Flashes.

So much to see and hear and do and experience — It’s no wonder the tradition of the county fair endures. Fans come from the city and suburbs as well as the farm.

First up is the Paulding County Fair, opening Tuesday and running through Saturday.

The big news this year: "We got five donors to sponsor the gates, so we’ll have no admission [charge] this year. In the past it was $5 a day," said Susan Deatrick, secretary of the fair board.

Rides also will be free, courtesy of the fair board, she added.

Rides can get pretty expensive for families, Mrs. Deatrick observed. "We just wanted to give them an opportunity to come out and have fun on the rides at no charge."

New attractions this year include a dunk tank with cheerleaders from Antwerp, Paulding, and Wayne Trace high schools. Also new will be an antique tractor pull.

Popular returning events include the third annual Paulding County Idol contest.

For many fair-goers, it’s not the activities but the people they look forward to, Mrs. Deatrick said. "Meeting old friends and making news ones — that’s what my kids say. They can’t wait to see their ‘fair friends.’"

It’s the same for the grownups, she added. "Adults have their fair friends, too."

The Paulding County Fair takes place at 503 Fairground Drive, Paulding. Information: 419-399-2961 or paulding.osu.edu/paulding-county-fair.

Here is a list of other upcoming fairs. Admission charges are listed, but there may be additional fees for parking, rides, and special grandstand events. Most fairs offer special free or discount days for the general public, children, seniors, and veterans.

June
Putnam County Fair, June 23-28 at 1490 East Second Street, Ottawa, Ohio. Admission is $5 per day; children 12 and under are free. Information: 419-523-4628 or putnamcountyfair.com.

July
Ottawa County Fair, July 20-26 at 7870 West State Rt. 163, 2½ miles east of Oak Harbor. Admission is $5; free for children younger than 9. Information: 419-898-1971 or ottawacountyfair.org.

Seneca County Fair, July 27-Aug. 2 at 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin. Admission is $6 daily; children under 9 are free. Information: 419-447-7888 or senecacountyfair.org.

Lucas County Fair, July 28-Aug. 2 at 1406 Key St., Maumee. Admission is $6 daily, 5 and under free. Information: 419-893-2127 or lucascountyfair.com.

Lenawee County Fair, July 26-Aug. 1 at 602 North Dean St., Adrian. Admission is $5 for adults, $1 for ages 6 to 12, free for 5 and under. Information: 517-263-3007 or lenfair.com.

Ohio State Fair, July 29-Aug. 9 at 717 East 17th Ave., Columbus. Admission is $10 for adults 13-59, $8 for youths 5 to 12 and seniors 60 and over, free for children under 5. Information: 614-644-3247 or ohiostatefair.com.

August
Monroe County Fair, Aug. 2-8 at 3775 South Custer Rd., Monroe. Admission Monday through Saturday is $5 for adults, $2 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and younger. On Sunday, admission drops to $4 for adults, free for children 12 and younger. Information: 734-241-5775 or monroecountyfair.com.

Wood County Fair, Aug. 4-10 at 13800 West Poe Rd., Bowling Green. Admission is $6 a day for 10 and over, free for children 9 and under. Information: 419-352-0441 or woodcounty-fair.com.

Erie County Fair, Aug. 11-16 at 3110 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. Admission is $7 for anyone 36 inches or taller; free for children less than 36 inches tall. Information: 419-625-1000 or eriecountyohiofair.com.

Pemberville Free Fair, Aug. 12-15 at Memorial Park, corner of College Avenue and Memorial Drive in Pemberville. Admission is free. Information: 419-287-3832 or pembervillefair.org.

Henry County Fair, Aug. 14-20 at 821 South Perry St., Napoleon. Admission is $6 for adults, free for 12 and under. Information: 419-592-9096 or henrycountyfair.org

Huron County Fair, Aug. 17-22 at 940 Fair Rd. Norwalk. Admission is $7 for anyone 36 inches tall or over, free for under 36 inches. Information: 419-668-0516, 419-744-2225, or huroncountyfair.com.

Allen County Fair, Aug. 21-29 at 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima. Admission is $6 for ages 9 and up, free for 8 and under. Information: 419-228-7141 or allencountyfair.org.

Defiance County Fair, Aug. 22-29 at 523 South Main St., Hicksville. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students 6-17, and free for children 5 and younger. Information: 419-542-7575 or defiancefair.com.

Sandusky County Fair, Aug. 25-30 at 901 Rawson Ave., Fremont. Admission is $7 for people 36 inches tall and over, free for under 36 inches. Information: 419-332-5604 or sanduskycountyfair.com.

Michigan State Fair, Aug. 28-Sept. 7 at 1120 West State Fair Ave., Detroit. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 3-12 and seniors 62 and older, and free for 2 and under. Information: 313-369-8250 or michiganstatefair.com.

September
Hancock County Fair, Sept. 2-7 at 1017 East Sandusky St., Findlay. Admission is $7, free for children under 16 who are accompanied by an adult. Information: 419-429-7344 or hancockfairgrounds.org.

Van Wert County Fair, Sept. 2-9 at 1055 South Washington St., Van Wert. Admission is $6 for age 9 and older, free for 8 and younger. Information: 419-238-9270 or vanwertcountyfair.com

Fulton County Fair, Sept. 4-10 at 8514 State Rt. 108, Wauseon. Admission is $5 for adults, free for children under 15 if accompanied by an adult. Information: 419-335-6006 or fultoncountyfair.com.

Hardin County Fair, Sept. 8-13 at 14134 Fairground Rd., south of Kenton. Admission is $6 for age 9 and older. Information: 419-675-2396 or hardincountyfair.org.

Williams County Fair, Sept. 12-19 at 619 East Main St., Montpelier. Admission is $6 for adults, free for children 12 and younger. Information: 419-485-3755 or wcofair.com.

Wyandot County Fair, Sept. 15-20 at 10171 State Rt. 53 North, north of Upper Sandusky. Admission is $6 for 8 years and older. Information: 419-294-4320.

Hillsdale County Fair, Sept. 27-Oct. 3 at 115 South Broad St., Hillsdale. Admission is $4 for adults ($2 on Sunday); $1 for children 10 to 14, and free for 9 and under. Information: 517-437-3622 or hillsdalecountyfair.org.

Contact Ann Weber at: aweber@theblade.com
or 419-724-6126.

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