Lenawee County Fair stresses music

8/13/2005

ADRIAN - The Lenawee County Fair is stocked with high-profile entertainment this year, organizers say.

The country band Lonestar, with hits on both the country and pop music charts, and the award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry are the headline performances for this year's fair, which starts tomorrow and runs through next Saturday.

The push for music was an effort to give people more of what they want, Chris Miller, fair manager, said.

"We did make a conscious decision to raise the bar a little bit," he said. "Everybody who's ever been anybody in country music has been here."

Last year, the fair held a free concert, performed by the country band Confederate Railroad, in an effort to fill the 6,000-seat grandstand. Although a lot of people turned out, the grandstand wasn't filled.

So, the fair is returning to ticket sales for the big performances.

Lonestar will perform 8 p.m. Thursday and Montgomery Gentry hits the stage at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $28 for all seats.

Tejano musicians Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday. The music style descended from Mexico with influences from American rock and blues. Tickets are $20.

But the music is just part of the fair festivities.

New for the fair: Mechanical bull riding and jumping on a large trampoline while in a harness attached to bungee cords, which will be available for $5 each.

And a number of contests are planned to draw people together to cheer on local talent. Lenawee County residents can compete to be crowned queen, or recognized as the most talented or best karaoke singer.

"It's a little bit like going to your fourth-grade music performance; everybody comes," Mr. Miller said. "There's a huge local following of friends and family."

Familiar rides and food stands, such as the popular Frosty Cow with cheap dairy desserts, will keep fair-goers busy between grandstand shows. Wristbands to ride the rides will be available for $16.

The children's area has been set off from the rest of the fairgrounds this year. It will be more family friendly "with a picnic area for parents to sit down and crash while the 5-year-olds are running from ride to ride," Mr. Miller said.