York County Fair to celebrate 150 years

​YORK – In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the York County Fair, the theme of “All American Fun” will be felt all throughout next week as the 2023 fair gets underway.

One special feature at the fairgrounds, which is brand new, is the new playground on the west side of the small animal building, near the Cornerstone Event Center. This playground is the product of several months of fundraising and hard work by all the York County 4-H clubs.
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Most of the money was raised by the local 4-Hers themselves with some of the funds coming from the county’s visitor improvement funds per allowance by the York County Commissioners.

Fairgoers are also reminded to check out all the special benches – honoring each community in the county – which were placed there a couple of years ago in celebration of the county’s 150th anniversary.

Activities at the fairgrounds will be held all week, as 4-Hers will hold a number of competitions. Then the fairgrounds will start to fill on Thursday as livestock shows, displays and events will begin.

On Thursday, Aug. 3, the following is planned:

• 10 a.m., sheep and meat goat show in the Cornerstone building
• 10 a.m., FFA petting zoo opens in the swine barn
• 1 p.m., poultry show in small animal barn
• 12 a.m. until 10 p.m., exhibit buildings open
• 2 p.m., dairy show in Cornerstone building
• 5:30 p.m., music under the tent by the Moore Brothers Band
• 5:30-7:30 p.m., pork barbecue
• 6 p.m., D.C. Lynch Midway opens
• 6:30 p.m., watermelon feed, sponsored by York State Bank
• 6:30 p.m., Quilt of Valor presentation, tent
• 6:45 p.m., 4-H/FF awards, tent
• 7:30 p.m., antique tractor parade
• 7:30 p.m., demolition derby, grandstands
• 8 p.m., Taps, Taste and Tunes, tent
• 8:30-11 p.m., bingo, south of main tent

On Friday, Aug. 4:

• 10 a.m., bucket calf and beef show, Cornerstone building
• 10 a.m., FFA petting zoo opens
• 12 p.m.-10 p.m., Midway opens
• 5:30 p.m., music under the tent by Ingrid Griffin
• 5:30-7:30 p.m., Cattlemen’s steak fry
• 6:15 p.m., York Dance Center performance, tent
• 6:45 p.m., Vern Friesen bronze sculpture dedication
• 7 p.m., Pioneer Farm Family presentation, tent
• 7 p.m., Cowboy Ranch Rodeo, arena
• 7:30 p.m., 150th celebration, ice cream social under the tent
• 9 p.m., the Pioneer Band dance and beer garden
• 8:30-11 p.m., bingo

Saturday, Aug. 5:

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Waffleman as 4-H fundraiser
• 10 a.m., swine show, Cornerstone building
• 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., FFA petting zoo open
• 12-10 p.m., exhibit building open
• 9 a.m. until noon, kids’ activities under the tent with the String Beans from 10-11 a.m.
• 1 p.m., Midway opens
• 1:30 p.m., kids’ pedal tractor pull
• 1:30 p.m., small animal round robin
• 2 p.m., auto show and shine
• 6 p.m., cornhole tournament in the tent beer garden
• 6:30 p.m., figure eight races
• 7-11 p.m., bingo
• 8:30 p.m., Jordan Schoch Band dance and beer garden

Sunday, Aug. 6:

• 9:30 a.m., inspirational services, tent
• 11 a.m., large animal round robin
• 11 a.m., antique tractor pull
• 12-5 p.m., Midway open
• 12-2 p.m., exhibit buildings open
• 12-4 p.m., FFA petting zoo open
• 1 p.m., Pee Wee pet show
• 1:30 p.m., mutton busting, arena in sheep barn
• 2:30 p.m., Farm Olympics, north of beef barn
• 4-6 p.m., release of all exhibits