How many rides are at the Ionia Free Fair?

Living up to its name, the Free Fair will offer many free events this year, from concerts to Kids Day to diving dogs to a lumberjack show to an acrobatics act.

The grand opening parade will kick off the fair at 11 a.m. on July 16 with the theme “Back in the Saddle.” Parade line-up is 9:30 a.m. on East Main Street in Ionia.

A variety of free events will take place by the Merchants Building throughout fair week, with showtimes staggered to feature a free event nearly every hour. 

These events include the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show with old-fashioned fun and entertainment featuring lumberjack competitors; North American Diving Dogs, a canine sport in which dogs are enticed to run the length of a dock and leap out as far as possible into the water to compete for height or distance; as well as performances from Ivan’s Acrobatics.

Youth farm exhibits will be featured all week, as well as a cake and pie auction on July 18, a small animal sale on July 20 and a large animal sale on July 21.

“All the animals and exhibits that make up a huge part of our fair will be on display,” Fair Board President Lisa Sanford said. “We have lots of new participants in the Exhibition Building Marketplace up front. We keep working on infrastructure projects and one area people should notice is the renovation of the old ticket booth under the grandstand! We will be operational for ticket sales there during fair to buy your grandstand event tickets. The Miracle of Life exhibit has an exciting addition and has expanded into the big livestock barn. Now you can see all of your favorite babies both in the red quonset and the livestock barn. Look for the big red barn attached to the livestock barn!”

The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show with old-fashioned fun and entertainment featuring lumberjack competitors will offer free shows by the Merchants Building throughout fair week at the Ionia Free Fair. — Submitted photo

Here’s a closer look at some of the happenings at the fair:

KIDS DAY

Kids Day will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. July 19 at the E! Park. Families and children of all ages are invited to enjoy a variety of free activities, including a giant bubble station, balloon artist, games and crafts, a superhero meet and greet, a baby center, ambulance and helicopter tours, “Talking is Teaching” activities, a bike raffle, prizes and more. Kids Day is sponsored by Ionia County Great Start Collaborative, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Sparrow Health, Meijer and Travis Q. Harshman Orthodontics.

“Every summer our team at the Great Start Collaborative is eager and excited for the Ionia Free Fair,” said Alison Laverdiere, a parent liaison with Great Start Collaborative. “This event is our chance to showcase the many organizations that are here in our community to help families develop and grow. Families who attend will be able to sign up for various free programs as it relates to overall health and well being.”

SPECIAL DAYS

Senior Day is July 18, Cops Day is July 20, Veterans Day is July 21 (free parking, plus lunch at noon), Ladies Day is July 22 (special speakers at 10 a.m.).

GRANDSTAND EVENTS (not free)

North American Diving Dogs, a canine sport in which dogs are enticed to run the length of a dock and leap out as far as possible into the water to compete for height or distance; as well as an acrobatics act, will offer free shows by the Merchants Building throughout fair week at the Ionia Free Fair. — Submitted photo

Monster Truck Thrown-Down is July 15 and 16, Off-Road Derby/Figure 8 Derby is July 17, Night of Destruction Demo Derby is July 18, SJO Motocross is July 19, Twisted P Rodeo is July 22 and Thumb Tractor Pulls are July 23.

CONCERTS

A variety of concerts are scheduled under a large tent at the Bud Light E! Park throughout fair week, including Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys on July 15 ($10), The Four Horsemen (a Metallica tribute band) with special guest Edge of Sundown on July 16 ($10), the Glad All Over Band on July 17 (free), Parting Waters on July 18 (free), Flashback on July 19 (free), Tommy & the Rock Show (a Journey tribute band) on July 20 (free), the Center Stage Band from Belding on July 21 (free), an Eric Church and Chris Stapleton tribute band on July 22 ($10), Mega 80s on July 23 ($10) and the Dave Winters Band on July 23 ($10).

FOOD & RIDES

Arnold’s Entertainment will bring a carnival to town starting at 1 p.m. July 15 through 11 p.m. July 23. Multiple food vendors will also be on hand serving funnel cake, hot dogs, elephant ears, craft beer and more fair favorites. For the rides, “super fun passes” are $20 each if purchased before July 14, then $30 each after July 14. “Mega passes” are $150 each and parking passes are $30 each.

Visit ioniafreefair.com for a complete schedule of events and more details, or search for “Ionia Free Fair” on Facebook.

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