MANSFIELD — A new, air-conditioned, $1.2 million show arena will welcome visitors when the 174th Richland County Fair begins on Sunday.
“Adena (Corp.) stepped up and got the building built and we got the stuff inside it that we needed. We have a little bit more to do inside, but it will be ready for the first shows,” Richland County Fair Board President Jim Schaub said Thursday.
The 9,200-square foot building will provide additional space and safety for spectators and those showing animals.
It will also increase rental revenue opportunities for the fairgrounds.
Ground for the new arena was broken Feb. 29 with a hope the new facility would be ready when the fair began just more than five months later.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, David Dick, a member of the Richland County Agricultural Board of Directors, praised the collaboration that helped to fund the building.
“There’s a lot of people to thank for this. We had approximately 150 donors,” said Dick, a farmer and Mansfield attorney who helped spearhead the lengthy fundraising effort to its inclusion Feb. 20 when Richland County commissioners agreed to provide $200,000 from their capital funds.
“This project is not just going benefit the fair and the youth, it’s going to be awesome having a big show arena, but with the restrooms, the heat, the concrete … it’s going to be able to be rented year round,” Dick said in February.
“It’s going to provide further economic growth and development in this area. It’s endless what this building can be used for and I think it’s going to help this community greatly,” Dick said.
Installing a new sound system and other technology were the last things to be accomplished.
“It’s finished and ready to go,” Schaub said.
(Photos of the new show arena at the Richland County Fairgrounds taken Thursday.)
The new show arena is just one of the things Schaub and organizers hope attract visitors to the fairgrounds at 750 N. Home Road.
In addition to barns full of animals and a packed midway with rides, games and food, there is planned entertainment every night in the grandstand,
“We have two nights of harness racing, Touch-A-Truck, a kids’ day, a rodeo, tractor pulls, motocross and a demolition derby,” he said of the fair’s 2024 attractions.
Daily admission is $10 for adults with children 48 inches and under admitted free. That ticket price includes all grandstand entertainment, Schaub said.
There will be a Senior Citizens’ Day on Monday with those 62 and older admitted for $5.
During Kids’ Day on Tuesday, ride wristbands are $10 from noon to 4 p.m. The first 500 children 18 and under will receive free wristbands, courtesy of Shelby Eagles #763.
Armed Forces Day will be Thursday with free admission to veterans and active duty military members with proper ID.
2024 Richland County Fair grandstand entertainment
- Sunday, Aug. 4 …..Harness Racing………5:30 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- Monday, Aug. 5….Harness Racing………5:30 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- Tuesday, Aug. 6 …Touch A Truck…………6 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- Wednesday, Aug. 7…..Rodeo………………6 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- (Reserved Seats $10)
- Thursday, Aug. 8 ……..Central Ohio Truck Pull Circuit/County Tractor Pull……..7 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- Reserved Seats $10
- Pit Pass $10
- Back Gate $20
- Friday, Aug. 9 …..Moto Cross……………..6 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- Reserved Seats $10
- Pit Pass $10
- Back Gate $20
- Saturday, Aug. 10…..Demo Derby………5 p.m. (free with admission into the fair)
- Reserved Seats $10
- Back Gate $20
