Fair week in Statesboro brings a great deal of excitement to the area, but the week-long event isn't just thrill rides and fair food. The seven-county agricultural fair features nightly entertainment that covers a variety of music genres and family-oriented shows.
Statesboro Kiwanis Club member Mike Bowen works hard all year to locate interesting and talented acts to participate in the Fair. He promises the nightly entertainment this year is exceptional.
The 56th Annual Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair opened Monday with the Rambling Creek band at the Heritage Village stage. The band Endswell completed the night's performances, and visitors enjoyed the rabbit show, where area youth displayed their project rabbits for judging and Rosaire's Racing Pigs brought gales of laughter as the portly porkers raced for treats.
Tuesday night, the racing pigs will be back for several shows, and a Market Hog Show will be featured at the agriculture barn at 6 p.m.
Chandler Fritts will perform at the Heritage Village stage at 6 p.m., while a fascinating thrill show by Extreme Illusionists takes place at the main entrance to the Fair. There will be encore performances by Extreme Illusionists at 8 and 10 p.m. as well, Bowen said.
Riley Lowery and Friends will entertain at 8 p.m. at the Heritage Village stage, bringing the night's fun to a close.
Bowen said the illusionist acts and the racing pigs will be held nightly, but musical performers will change each night. On Wednesday, local talent Chyann Rose will perform at the Heritage Village stage at 6, the same time the Market Goat Show begins in the agricultural barn. The Southern Crossroads band will follow at 8 p.m. at the Heritage Village stage.
On Thursday, Field Day takes the stage while the Market Lamb Show gets underway.
A special act, The Women of Country Music, will begin performing on the Heritage Village Stage at 8 p.m.
"The women of Country Music show is going to be fabulous," Bowen said.
The Michahlan Boney & The Pig Eye Daddies will be playing on Friday night at 8 p.m., following a performance by a new band from Savannah, Lyn Avenue. "They will also be a great show as well," he said.
Saturday, the fun starts a bit earlier. The Steer and Heifer Show will be held at 2 p.m. in the agriculture barn, and musical entertainment will start at 6 p.m. on the stage with the Drew Wiggins and Friends band, followed at 8 p.m. by Musical Minds, he said.
Visitors will be able to browse Heritage village, with a variety of food vendors, a barnyard, the historical Aldrich House farm display a blacksmith shop, grist mill, antique farm implements exhibit, an old country store and beekeepers display, he said.
All entertainment is free each night.
2017 Fair schedule
Tuesday
Wrist stamp night: $20 stamp allows bearer unlimited rides.
Senior Citizen's Day (Free)
Fair opens at 4 p.m. and closes at 11 p.m.
Free live entertainment, exhibits
Wednesday
Student Night (free admission; college students need valid college ID)
Fairgrounds open at 4 p.m.
Market Goat Show 6 p.m.
Live entertainment nightly
Fairgrounds close at 11 p.m.
Thursday
Military Appreciation Day (All active and retired military with ID, and dependents, free admission).
Fairgrounds open at 4 p.m.
Wrist stamps ( good for unlimited rides) on sale for $20
Market Lamb Show 6 p.m.
Live entertainment, exhibits and shows
Fairgrounds close at 11 p.m.
Friday
Moonlight Madness -wrist stamps sold from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. only - $15 - good for unlimited rides.
Fairgrounds open at 4 p.m.
Live entertainment (music, thrill and magic shows)
Fairgrounds close at 1 a.m.
Saturday
Kiddie Land Special - from 1-3 p.m. kiddie rides only are one ticket per ride
Fairgrounds open at 1 p.m.
Wrist stamps $22 each - good for unlimited rides all day long
Steer and Heifer show - 2 p.m.
Live entertainment all evening
GATES CLOSED at 10 p.m. - NO ticket sales or readmissions
FAIR CLOSES/rides shut down at midnight