Champaign County Fair opens with livestock shows, country concert

Sarah Beattie, 14, opens a bag of bedding for her pigs in one of the swine barns Thursday at the Champaign County Fair. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Sarah Beattie, 14, opens a bag of bedding for her pigs in one of the swine barns Thursday at the Champaign County Fair. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

The 178th annual Champaign County Fair kicks off today with a country music concert, livestock competitions and fun for the entire family.

The fairgrounds, which are located at 384 Park Ave. in Urbana, will open each day at around 7 a.m. and close out at 11 p.m. The fair will run until Friday, Aug. 9.

The week-long fair will feature all of its usual events — including 4-H competitions and livestock shows, which begin on this afternoon. Junior Fair market swine, lambs and goats will all be weighed. The Junior Fair horse show begins at 5 p.m.

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The fair's kick-off celebration tonight will also feature a performance by country music duo LOCASH and guest Kaitlyn Baker at 8 p.m. at the grandstands. Tickets for the concert start at $22 and are available online and at the fair office.

The 2019 Junior Fair Queen will be crowned Sunday at 7 p.m., followed by the 4-H Boy and Girl of the Year. Pig and calf scrambles will take place immediately following at the grandstands.

The price of daily admission is $8 per person, which includes rides. Children under the age of 2-years-old will get in for free, but an $8 ticket must be purchased if they will be participating in rides.

Week-long passes, which do not include rides, can also be purchased at the fair office, located on sight at the fairgrounds.

General parking is free and includes a shuttle service to the grounds, as the general parking lot is located just off Powell Avenue. Parking lots that require passes are all sold out, according to the fair’s website.

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