The village of Bellville will host its 164th Bellville Street Fair Sept. 10 through 13. The popular street fair, locally or anecdotally known as the “Bellville World’s Fair,” serves as a homecoming to many of those from the area as well as a fun event for those brand new to the area or just passing through.
“Everyone knows you have to come to the fair; you see people you haven’t seen in forever. It’s almost like a reunion every year,” said Vic Swisher, Bellville’s newest council member. “When I was in the military, I came back from Alabama just to come to the fair.”
Although the street fair doesn’t open until Sept. 10, fairgoers may whet their appetite for the festivities to come with the Tractor Pull, Sunday, Sept. 7, at noon at the Jefferson Township/Bellville Fire Department, located at 420 S. Main St.
“I was always interested in tractor pulls. My dad tractor pulled at every fair around,” said Swisher. “That’s the one thing I always get excited for: the tractor pull.”
The Bellville fair is one of the few remaining street fairs, as well as independent agricultural fairs, in the state of Ohio. Admission is free.
For those interested in exhibiting items at the fair, an entry form may be found at the website. The deadline for needlework, artwork, and livestock exhibits is Tuesday, Sept. 9, while the deadline for farm and garden displays, fresh vegetables and fruit, special exhibits, flowers, baked goods and candies, honey bees and canned goods is Wed., Sept. 10.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, the fair will kick off at 4 p.m. as rides and concessions open. Exhibit judging begins at 5 p.m. The 2014 Fair Queen will be selected at 6 p.m., and the Clear Fork High School Marching Band will feature as the evening’s entertainment, beginning at 7 p.m.
Thursday will see the street exhibit judging at 9 a.m., then goat, dairy, cattle and swine judging at 5 p.m. The evening’s entertainment will be the Marching Princesses at 6 p.m., followed by the Buckeye Country Cloggers at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, rides open at 1 p.m., and Rick and the Allnighters will perform at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s events will feature the Junior Livestock Sale at 9 a.m., a Pet and Doll Show at 11 a.m., a horse show at 1 p.m., and Steve Hall & the Shotgun Red Show at 7 p.m.
A full schedule of events may be found at the website.
Rides and midway will be open daily, with concessions as well as local food vendors.
Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks said, “We are excited and looking forward to the fair. We can’t wait to see all those people come to town.”
Banks estimated 25,000 people attend the “Bellville World’s Fair.”
