Old grandstand seats come down at fair

SANDWICH – The grandstand at the Sandwich fairgrounds, built 109 years ago, has been demolished, so most audiences will be seated in bleachers for entertainment throughout the Sandwich Fair.

“The supports were dry rotting and the roof really leaned to the east,” said Jim Webber, a member of the Sandwich Fair Association board, as he described the old structure.

“When you have 2,000 people in the old upper wooden part [of the grandstand] and 1,000 below in the concrete portion … we’re responsible for their safety.”

Webber said that means visitors will need to be patient.

“People are going to have to be flexible this year while we make adjustments,” he said. “This is a learning year.”

Events scheduled near or on the half-mile racetrack, with free admission, include harness racing at 11 a.m. both Wednesday, Sept. 9, and Thursday, Sept. 10; and the Neverly Brothers ­performing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, on the main stage.

Truck Pulls, sanctioned by the NTPA, will start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, on the track. Audiences will be offered seating in the reserved concrete seats, Hot Seats on the track, and infield bleacher seats each side of the track’s tower. Adult admission is $20 and admission for children ages 12 and younger is $5.

For the performance by Brett Eldredge at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, both the stage and bleachers will be on the eastern portion of the grassy area inside the racetrack.

Eldredge grew up in Illinois, listening to country music. After a visit to Nashville, where he heard his cousin sing at the Station Inn, he transferred from Elmhurst College in Chicago to Middle Tennessee State University. He started performing at songwriter nights in the Nashville area and by 2012 he had a hit, selling over a million units of “Don’t Ya.” In May 2015 he had a hit, “Lose My Mind,” and another hit in July, “Just a Taste.” Eldredge’s second album, “Illinois,” is scheduled for release in September.

General admission tickets for the Brett Eldredge show are $25 per person for all seats.

The Tractor Pulls, sanctioned by the NTPA, will be at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Tickets for the reserved seats, the Hot Seats on the track, and the bleacher seats by the tower are all $20 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and younger.

Demolition Derbys are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, with seating in the reserved section and the infield. Tickets are $15 for each adult and $5 per child ages 12 and younger.

All tickets to the grandstand events are available on the Sandwich Fair website (sandwichfair.com) or from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Labor Day, Sept. 7, and Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the main gate ticket office.

This year, two long-time “fixtures” at the Sandwich Fair are being honored. North American Midway has been the carnival provider for 40 years. Jeff Blomsness and his company have provided a clean, safe and diverse group of rides and booths for patrons of the fair.

This is the 40th year that Buttons the Clown will be seen around the fairgrounds in his miniature car, entertaining fairgoers while they stroll from exhibit to exhibit.

There’s lots of free entertainment throughout the oak-shaded fairgrounds, from the Farm Zoo in the livestock area that’s operated by Future Farmers of America to the antique farm machinery exhibits in the center of Otto’s Miniature Steam Railroad tracks.

Carrie McQueen will be stilt-walking and juggling in different areas, often accompanied by the Banjo Buddies and Mariachi America performing for wandering fair visitors.

The AgLand Stage near the Poultry and Rabbit Building is a special spot where folks can sit on benches while watching scheduled shows and performers for free.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Max Armstrong and the Round House Band will be on stage at noon, and the Relics will perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, the schedule features Orion Samuelson with the Round House Band at noon and Back Pages from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Friday, Sept. 11, the WSPY FM/AM show features Max Armstrong, Chris Schwemlein and Crossroads Band (also broadcast on WCSJ FM/AM and WLBK FM/AM) at noon; a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony by U.S. veterans at 1 p.m.; Talk of the Town Swing Band from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Billy Croft and the 5 Alarms performing from 7 to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, Chris Valillo and Bucky Halker will perform from 1 to 4 p.m. and Woody James will perform from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, Patchouli will perform from 1 to 4 p.m.

Another venue that draws fair-lovers is the stage behind the Home Arts Building, a beautiful yellow Victorian-era structure that assures everyone they are visiting an historic location. Sherry Farley plays her hammered dulcimer there most weekday afternoons.

Culinary competitions set for Wednesday, Sept. 9, on the Home Arts Building Stage include: Bountiful Yeast Goodies at 2 p.m. followed by Salsa Fiesta at 4 p.m.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, competition will be Same Recipe Apple Pie at 11 a.m., Beef Bonanza at 2 p.m., and Let’s Celebrate Chicken at 4 p.m. There will also be a Food Cooking Demo by Chef Darrel at 12:30 p.m. that day.

On Friday, Sept. 11, there’ll be competition for Chocolate Lover’s Dream at 11 a.m., Pork Extravaganza at 2 p.m., and Chili at 4 p.m.

Other events on the Home Arts Stage will feature Redhorse at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9; Ethan Bell Band performing from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10; Woody James from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11; and the Fox River Lutheran Church at 9 a.m. and Phoenix performing from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, worship services will be provided by area churches at 8:30 a.m.; it will be Field Day from noon to 2 p.m.; and “Cloggin’ Craze” will be held from 3 to 3:45 p.m. on the Home Arts Building Stage.

Gate admission tickets are $9 for adults; $5 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children ages 5 and younger. Season adult tickets are $22 and season child tickets are $8. Exhibitor tickets are $16 and junior exhibitor tickets are $8.

Special admission rates are: Wednesday is Children Free Day, with kids 12 years old or younger having free gate admission; Thursday is Senior Citizen Bargain Day, when seniors will be admitted at the gate for $5 until 5 p.m.; and Friday is Bargain Day and Armed Forces Day with everyone admitted for $5 until 5 p.m. and those serving in the military, with military identification, admitted free until 5 p.m.