Jacktown Fair seeking entries for July 19 parade
The Jacktown Fair, the oldest continuously running fair in the nation, will celebrate its 151st chapter this year by kicking off the festivities with the annual parade July 19.
Organizers of the parade are now seeking applications from any individual or organization that wants to be a part of the fair’s official starting event.
Bands, businesses, churches, fire companies, groups, organizations and individuals are all welcome to participate, fair chairwoman Marcia Sonneborn said.
“If you have an interesting, entertaining, showy or unusual item, your entry will be welcomed,” she said.
The fair is also interested in having antique and classic cars, clowns, fire trucks, horses and local or regional queens and princesses in the parade lineup.
The fair, which will run through July 23, is sponsored by the Richhill Agricultural Society, which was originally named The Richhill Agricultural, Mechanical and Manufacturing Association in its charter from July 6, 1866. The first fair was held Oct. 3 and 4 of that same year. It was initially called the Jacksonville Fair after the original name for Wind Ridge in those days.
Though there may be older fairs, the Jacktown Fair is considered the oldest continuously operating fair, never having missed a year since its inception.
The fair will this year include several pre-parade events July 17, with a worship service at 10 a.m. at the fairgrounds and the Jacktown Fair Queen competition at 7 p.m.
The annual Jacktown Fair parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m. July 19 in Wind Ridge. The theme this year for the fair and the parade is “We Have Good Things Growing.”
The parade will feature Marissa Rode, daughter of Jeff and Shelia of Jollytown, the reigning 2015 Jacktown Fair Queen and Veronica Lasko, the 9-year-old daughter of Michael Lasssssko and Tracey Stewart of Sycamore, the 2015 Jacktown Fair Princess.
Contestants vying for this year’s fair queen and the new Jacktown Fair princess will be in attendance. State and local dignitaries also have been invited to participate in this year’s parade.
The parade will have two float contests, both based on the fair theme.
One is the mini float contest, begun last year, in which contestants construct a float on a child’s wagon, a wheel barrow, garden cart or small cart. It can be hand pulled or pulled by a lawn tractor.
The entries in this category will receive prizes of $40, $30, $20 and $10. The entries for the regular float contest will receive prizes of $100, $75, $50, and $25.
Float entries will be judged on their attractiveness, design, workmanship, use of the theme, originality and other elements. Anyone who wishes to enter a float or entry corresponding to this year’s theme is encouraged to do so.
Those who wish to enter the parade contact should contact Sonneborn as soon possible, so the parade’s line can be constructed. The date of entry will be taken in to consideration when forming the parade line. To enter the parade or for more information, call Sonneborn at 724-428-4344 or send an email to marciasonne@windstream.net.