Boyle County Fair moves to new location this year

Published 11:49 am Tuesday, June 6, 2023

The Boyle County Fair will be held in a new location this year from June 10 to June 17.

The new location is on Smoky Way in Danville just off the Danville bypass. The land is behind the Danville Fire Department Station 2 and the Danville Eye Center on the bypass. Cars can enter by Monticello Bank, right across from Applebees.

The City of Danville had bought the old fairgrounds at Millennium Park in order to expand park offerings. The city just opened new tennis courts on the old fairgrounds, which left no room for motor sports or parking for the fair. The city has plans to build other things on the property as well.

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The fair’s new location at Smoky Way does not have buildings that can host bigger events, so some events will be held at different locations. The livestock shows will still be at the Livestock Barn at the old Boyle County fairgrounds next to the humane society.

The 2023 pageants will be at the Boyle County Performing Arts Center at Boyle County Middle School on June 10, which is at 325 Cunningham Dr. Everything else, including motor sports, carnival, petting zoo, etc., will be at the new Smoky Way location.

Fair President Ryan Owens explained that the new location doesn’t have a facility with dressing rooms for the pageant. It also doesn’t have a barn suitable for livestock shows. He said they will eventually build a facility at the new location for the pageants with air conditioning, as well as a barn for animal shows.

Owens said of the new location that they are starting from scratch on a raw piece of property. They had been at the old fairgrounds for 46 years.

Owens said they brought some bleachers from the old facility, built a new motor sports track, and have been learning about the topography of the property. One advantage to being in a new place is that they can build a better fair with the experience built up from over the years, and the knowledge of what works for the fair.

“We can build it to suit our needs,” Owens said. “46 years ago, they just kind of built stuff as they could when they got money.”

He is hoping the new Smoky Way spot will be a permanent location for the fair, but right now they are calling it temporary.

“We’re hoping to see how things turn out; the property owner has been very gracious in seeing how this will turn out as a new location,” Owens said.

Many of the same events are happening this year as in years past, such as the demolition derby, dog show, wrestling, tractor pull, helicopter rides, etc. Owens said there will be lots of food, including two new food vendors.

Another big returning event is a meet and greet with Jerry Benson from the TV show “Moonshiners” on June 17 at 7:30 p.m.

The parking lot will be close to the fair, but there will also be golf cart shuttles for people who are handicapped or have difficulty walking.

“Everything is going to be a lot more condensed and closer this year than it used to be, so you won’t have to walk as far once you get inside to the midway, motor sports track, and special events,” Owens said.

The main entrance will be near Monticello bank, and people can drive down that driveway into Fireside Drive and park behind the fire station.

Cars traveling west on the bypass can make a U-turn at Stewarts Lane before the railroad crossing.

Owens said they’ve been meeting with police about getting people in safely. Cars will only be able to enter Smoky Way traveling east. Cars going west will need to make a U-turn at Stewarts Lane, as the left turn lanes to Smoky Way and Fireside Drive will be closed.

Owens asked that people be patient with the new location, as they are still figuring things out and may have to work out some kinks.

The Floral Hall will take place over a month after the fair on July 24 at the Boyle County Extension office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Owens said people should watch the fair’s Facebook or Instagram page for updates or changes to the schedule.

Boyle County Fair Schedule

Saturday, June 10

6 p.m. – Swine Show Sponsored by Washington County Stockyards

All Pageants will be held at Boyle County Performing Arts Center (Admission $10).

8:30-8:50 a.m. – Tiny Miss & Mister Registration

8:30-9:30 a.m. – Baby Show Registration

9 a.m. – Tiny Miss & Mister Begins

10 a.m. – Baby Show Begins

10-10:45 a.m. – Miss Registration

11 a.m. – Miss Interviews Begin

11-11:45 a.m. – Little Miss & Mister Registration

noon – Little Miss & Mister begins

noon-12:45 – Mrs. Registration

noon-12:45 – Teen Registration

1 p.m. – Miss Pageant Begins

Mrs. pageant will be held while miss contestants are changing into evening gown

1 p.m. – Teen interviews begin

2-2:45 p.m. – Preteen Registration

3 p.m. – Teen pageant begins

3 p.m. – Preteen Interviews begin

5 p.m. – Preteen pageant begins

Monday, June 12

Gates open at 6 p.m. (No Carnival)

6:30 p.m. – Fun Dog Show registration

7 p.m. – Fun Dog Show begins

Tuesday, June 13

Gates open at 6 p.m. (Admission $15 No Re-entry).

6 p.m. – Carnival opens

7 p.m. – Championship KITPA Truck & Tractor Pull Sponsored by Apex Plumbing

8 p.m. – Championship Wrestling

America’s Favorite Magician Mark Comley Shows nightly, Doc Comley’s Medicine Show “Magical Elixir,” Jurassic Dinosaur Encounter, Petting Zoo

Wednesday, June 14

Gates open at 6 p.m. (Admission $15 No Re-entry)

6 p.m. – Goat Show Sponsored by Washington County Stockyards

6 p.m. – Carnival opens

7 p.m. – Championship Garden Tractor Pull

8 p.m. – Championship Wrestling

Magician Mark Comley, Doc Comley’s Medicine Show, Jurassic Dinosaur Encounter, Petting Zoo, Helicopter Rides.

Thursday, June 15

Gates open at 6 p.m.

4:30 p.m. – Sheep Show Sponsored by Washington County Stockyards

6 p.m. – Carnival opens

7 p.m. – TNT Truck/Tractor Pull points pull Sponsored by Community Trust Bank

Magician Mark Comley, Doc Comley’s Medicine Show, Jurassic Dinosaur Encounter, Petting Zoo, Helicopter Rides.

Friday, June 16

6 p.m. – Beef Show Sponsored by Washington County Stockyards, and Carnival opens

7 p.m. – Young N Wreckless Demo Derby Sponsored by Bob Allen

7:30 p.m. – Mullet Contest and Beard Contest registration

8 p.m. – Mullet Contest and Beard Contest begins

8 p.m. – Family Night Games

Pizza Eating Contest (Sponsored by Little Caesars); Moon Pie Eating Contest following Pizza Eating Contest.

Mobile Dairy Classroom, Magician Mark Comley, Doc Comley’s Medicine Show, Jurassic Dinosaur Encounter, Petting Zoo, Helicopter Rides.

Saturday, June 17

Gates open at 6 pm.

6 p.m. – Carnival opens

6:30 p.m. – Corn Hole Tournament registration

7 p.m. – Corn Hole Tournament

7 p.m. – Young N Wreckless Demo Derby Sponsored by Bob Allen

7:30 p.m. – Mullet Contest and Beard Contest registration

8 p.m. – Mullet Contest and Beard Contest begins

Magician Mark Comley, Doc Comley’s Medicine Show, Jurassic Dinosaur Encounter, Petting Zoo, Helicopter Rides.