Belle Fair Board announces abbreviated 72nd annual event

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 5/20/20

Belle Fair Board members announced last week that the 72nd Annual Belle Fair will go on — albeit on an abbreviated schedule.

“We are having this mainly for the kids,” said Fair …

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Belle Fair Board announces abbreviated 72nd annual event

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Belle Fair Board members announced last week that the 72nd Annual Belle Fair will go on — albeit on an abbreviated schedule.

“We are having this mainly for the kids,” said Fair Board President Ronnie Terrill. “So they can get rid of their animals. We are keeping costs down and have as much local stuff as possible.”

The decision to have a fair and whether to keep it the same amount of time was a difficult one, according to the fair board.

“There were many avenues to discuss and a lot of hard decisions to make,” the board posted on their Facebook page. “We are excited to announce that though it will look much different than years past, the 72nd Annual Belle Fair will take place Friday, July 24 - Saturday, July 25, 2020.”

With the abbreviated schedule also comes discount pricing. Terrill said they will charge $5 per person admissions and children 12 and under will be free.

“The admissions does not include the carnival rides this year,” Terrill said. “We are keeping everything pretty low-profile this year.”

The decision to shorten the Belle Fair came as the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic continues. While other counties are canceling their events, the Belle Fair Board would like a chance to give back to the community. Belle Mayor Josh Seaver said he felt like the fair board did the right thing in keeping the fair, but making it shorter.

“I think they made the right decision,” Seaver said. “I think given the virus and everything that is going on with that, I think the right choice is to have something but to keep it simple and keep it small.”

The board has announced the following entertainment:

A Carnival presented once again by Sonshine Amusement;

The ever-popular Greased Pig Contest;

Music by The Cherry Pistols, Barely Covered, ChristiAna;

Queen/Princess/Little Mr. & Miss Contest;

Kingsford Cook-off on Saturday afternoon;

4-H and FFA Livestock Auction;

Antique Tractor Pull; and

Kids Pedal Pull.

“Of course there is no guarantee there will be a fair at all if they shut us down,” Terrill said, referring to state and local government agencies. “But we have to go on and plan like it will happen.”

The board understands there has been a lot left unanswered in recent months.

“COVID-19 has brought about a lot of unknowns in the last couple months,” the fair board posted. “In times of uncertainty, there is one thing we are certain about: when times get tough, Belle has always come together to do the best we can with what we’ve got.”

Seaver said he hopes the community shows up for the event; Terrill added that the Belle Fair Board is also looking forward to the community’s support.