The Big Butler Fair gets underway Friday. Here's everything you need to know.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Friday is the day when Butler County shines at the fairgrounds along Route 422.
The Big Butler Fair gets underway Friday and kicks off nine days of quintessential county fair family fun.
From the midway to the barns, the Big Butler Fair is all about traditions and this is the 168th year for the event. From entertainment to animals, the fair caters to every area of interest.
The fair has a wide range of animals on site, including horses, llamas, goats, sheep, dairy cows, beef cattle, draft horses, and even gigantic rabbits.
Clint Cehily is now the fair's vice president. He started at the fair as a kid in the FFA showing his goats and pigs -- a tradition that continues today.
"You have kids as young as four or five years old showing their little lambs and goats, going up to probably 60 to 70-year-olds showing horses and cattle," Cehily said.
It's a showing of agricultural pride in the barns with payouts for the best in class.
"We've tripled tripled our payouts," Cehily said. "For the classes to show that we care about the farmers and agriculture in Butler County."
And of course there's the carnival with all the traditional rides, stuffed animals up for grabs and food you've come to expect.
Carli and Courtney from Slate Lick say that there is one thing they look forward to every year when they come to the fair.
"Denny and Pearls," they said in unison. "The strombolis. The strombolis at Denny and Pearls!"
And what do Denny and Pearl think of their fans?
"We appreciate their business, and we are glad they come," Denny said. "And we eat it ourselves."
Then there's the grandstand events.
"Every night we have grandstand events," Cehily said. "We have tractor pulls, school bus demo on Sunday night, rodeo on Saturday night and car demos and figure-eight races."
The fair also has fireworks on the Fourth of July and on the closing night, they have a concert from country music's Sammy Kershaw.
Cehily said he's excited for the next 10 days of the fair and says that there is only one thing that could dampen their festivities a bit this weekend.
"The fair is rain or shine," said Cehily. "Lighting will stop the rides. The rodeo, which is scheduled for tomorrow evening in the grandstands, is a rain or shine event, barring any lighting. But the rodeo will go on in the rain."
Entry to the fairgrounds before 4 p.m. costs $8, which covers the agricultural side and events. After 4 p.m., entry is $10. Kids age 6 and under are free. Entry to the carnival requires a wristband that costs $35 and it covers all of the rides. Food and games are extra. Tickets can be purchased in advance online. Tickets at the gate are cash only, but ATMs are available.
