Since 1864, the Hardin County Fair has been a major event in the county. The fair includes livestock exhibits, entertainment, musical entertainment, midway food and vendors and wholesome family fun.

Fair Schedule:

Monday, September 4, 2023

3:30 p.m: Mandatory Junior Fair Sheep Exhibitor Meeting – Small Animal Show Arena
5:00 p.m: Junior Fair Beef Exhibitor Meeting – Steak Barn
6:00 p.m: Junior Fair Swine Showmanship – Show Arena
6:00 p.m: Youth Judging – Arts/Crafts Building
9:00 p.m: All Open Class & Junior Fair Entries in Place

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

7:30 a.m: Gates Open
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Market Poultry Show – Small Animal Show Area
8:30 a.m: Culinary Art Judging – Arts & Crafts Building
9:00 a.m: Junior Fair Swine Show – Show Arena
10:00 a.m: Exhibit Buildings Open
10:00 a.m: Youth Conservation Contest Sign-In – Community Building
10:00 a.m. – Noon: Playtime with Early Intervention
10:30 a.m: Youth Conservation Contest – Community Building
Noon: Official Fair Opening – Gazebo
Noon: Rides Open
Noon: Open Class Flower Show – Arts & Crafts Building
Noon: Dairy Goat Showmanship, Jr Fair Dairy Classes – Small Animal Show Arena
Noon: Pygmy, Jr Fair Dairy Wether Show – Small Animal Show Arena
12:30 p.m: Pie Judging – Community Building
1:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
1-6:00 p.m: Glass Blowing Demonstrations – KidZone
3:30 p.m: Junior Fair Beef Skill-a-thon Contest – Steak Barn
4:00 p.m: Junior Fair Boer Market Wether Goat Show – Large Show Arena
4:00 p.m: Baked Goods Auction – Arts & Crafts Building
4:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
4:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
5-6:00 p.m: Children’s Dish Day – Community Building
5-7:00 p.m: Cynergy Dance Academy – Gazebo
6:00 p.m: Junior Fair Beef Educational Clinic – Show Arena
6:30 p.m: Crowning of Junior Fair King & Queen followed by Band Show – Grandstand
6:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
7:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
7:00 p.m: Wine Judging – Arts & Crafts Building
10:00 p.m: Exhibit Buildings & Rides Close

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

7:30 a.m: Gates Open
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Rabbit Show – Rabbit Show Area
8:00 a.m: Open class beef show, Junior Beef Showmanship – Show Arena
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Born in Hardin County Steer Show – Show Arena
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Horse and Pony Show – Horse Arena
8:30 a.m: Cultural Arts Judging – Arts & Crafts Building
10:00 a.m: Exhibit Buildings Open
10:00 a.m. – Noon: Playtime with Early Intervention
11:15 a.m: Pork Dish Day – Community Building
Noon: Rides Open
Noon: Bear Hollow Wood Carver Demonstration – KidZone
1:00 p.m: Commercial Meat Breeding Goat Showmanship – Small Animal Show Arena
1:00 p.m: Commercial Meat Breeding Goat Classes – Small Animal Show Arena
1:00 p.m: Dam Goat Classes – Small Animal Show Arena
1:00 p.m: Born in Hardin County Market Goat Show – Small Animal Show Arena
1:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
1-4:00 p.m: Homemaker Demonstrations – Community Building
1-6:00 p.m: Glass Blowing Demonstrations – KidZone
3:00 p.m: Bear Hollow Wood Carver Demonstration – KidZone
4:00 p.m: Junior Fair Sheep Breed Show – Show Arena
4:00 p.m: Junior Fair Sheep Showmanship & Market Lamb Show– Show Arena
4:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
4:30-5:30 p.m: Family Activity – Community Building
4:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
5:00 p.m: Antique judging – Arts & Crafts Building
5:30 p.m: Bear Hollow Wood Carver Demonstration – KidZone
6:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
6:30-8:30 p.m: No Limits Baton – Gazebo
6:30-9:00 p.m: Youth Cutting Board Challenge (Grades 7-12) – Community Building
7:00 p.m: Harness Racing – Grandstand
7:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
7-9:00 p.m: DJ Dance Party – KidZone
7:30 p.m: Bear Hollow Wood Carver Demonstration – KidZone
10:00 p.m: Exhibit Buildings & Rides Close

Thursday, September 7, 2023

7:30 a.m: Gates Open
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Dairy Feeder Show – Show Arena
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Poultry Show & Poultry Pee Wee – Small Animal Show Arena
10:00 a.m: Exhibit Buildings Open
10:00 a.m. – Noon: Playtime with Early Intervention
11:15 a.m: Homemaker’s Dairy Dish Day Judging – Community Building
Noon: Rides Open
Noon: Harness Racing – Grandstand
Noon: Bear Hollow Wood Carver – KidZone
12-7:00 p.m: Kids Artist, Henna Tattoos – KidZone
1:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
1-4:00 p.m: Homemaker Demonstrations – Community Building
1-6:00 p.m: Glass Blowing Demonstrations – KidZone
3:00 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – Children’s Entertainment Lawn
4:00 p.m: Junior Fair Breed & Beef Feeders Show – Show Arena
4:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
4:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
4:30-6:30 p.m: Family Activity – Community Building
5:30 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
6:00 p.m: Pee Wee Goat Showmanship “Just Kidding Around” Fun Night with goats – Small Animal Show Arena
6:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
7-8:30 p.m: Five Star Baton Group – Gazebo
7:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
7:00 p.m: Micro Wrestling – Grandstand
7:00 p.m: Junior Fair Steer Show – Show Arena
7-9:00 p.m: DJ Dance Party – KidZone
7:30 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
10:00 p.m: Exhibit Buildings & Rides Close

Friday, September 8, 2023

Senior Citizen’s & College Day
Senior citizens are admitted free with proof of age 60+.
College students are admitted half-price with a college ID.

7:30 a.m: Gates Open
8:00 a.m: Born in Hardin County Market Hog Show– Show Arena
8:00 a.m: UNTIL TICKETS ARE GONE – Doughnuts, Juice and Senior Meal Ticket Distribution – Shelter House
9:00 a.m: Open Class Draft Horse & Pony Show –Grandstand
10:00 a.m: Exhibit Buildings Open
10:00 a.m: Dairy Beef Feeder Buy-Back Auction – Behind Dairy Beef Feeder Barn
10:00 a.m: Mad River Valley Dulcimers – Shelterhouse
11-11:30 a.m: Lima Beane Chorus – Gazebo
11:15 a.m: Beef Dish Judging – Community Building
11:30 a.m: Antique Tractor Parade – on Grounds
11:30 a.m: Show papers for Open Class Purebred Breeding Sheep and check in – Wool Display Area
Noon: Rides Open
Noon: Junior Fair Dairy Show – Show Arena
Noon: Flower Show – Arts & Crafts Building
Noon: Children’s Dairy Showmanship – Show Arena
Noon: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
12-7:00 p.m: Kids Artist, Children’s Face Painter – KidZone
1:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
1-4:00 p.m: Homemakers Demonstrations – Community Building
1-6:00 p.m: Glass Blowing Demonstrations – KidZone
2:00 p.m: Born in Hardin County Lamb Show, followed by Open Class Breeding Sheep Show – Show Arena
2:00 p.m: Junior Fair Dog Show – Shelter House
2:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
3:00 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
4:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
4:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
5:30 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
6:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
6:30-8:30 p.m: No Limits Baton – Gazebo
7:00 p.m: Hardin County Truck & Tractor Pull – Grandstand
7:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
7:30 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – Children’s Entertainment Lawn
10:00 p.m: Exhibit Buildings Close
11:00 p.m: Rides Stop and Fairgrounds Close

Saturday, September 9, 2023

7:30 a.m: Gates Open
8:00 a.m: Junior Fair Livestock Sale – Show Arena
8:30 a.m: Open Class Horse Show – Horse Arena
10:00 a.m: Exhibit Buildings Open
11:15 a.m: Poultry Dish Judging – Community Building
Noon: Rides Open
Noon: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
12-7:00 p.m: Kids Artist, Balloon Artist – KidZone
1:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
1-2:30 p.m: Five Star Baton Group – Gazebo
1-6:00 p.m: Family Activities and Demonstrations – Community Building
1-6:00 p.m: Glass Blowing Demonstrations – KidZone
2:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
2-5:00 p.m: Shifferly Road Band – Shelter House
3:00 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
4:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
4:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
5-7:00 p.m: JD Owen – Gazebo
5:30 p.m: Sheep Lead Contest – Show Arena
5:30 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
6-8:00 p.m: DJ Dance Party – KidZone
6:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
7:00 p.m: Broken Horn Rodeo – Grandstand
7:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
7:30 p.m: Wood Carver Presentation – KidZone
9:30-11:00 p.m: Junior Fair Dance Party – Show Arena (only Jr Fair Exhibitors allowed)
10:00 p.m: Exhibit Buildings Close
11:00 p.m: Rides Stop and Fairgrounds Close

Sunday, September 10, 2023

7:30 a.m: Gates Open
10:00 a.m: Music starts for Hour of Inspiration – Grandstand
10:30 a.m: Hour of Inspiration – Grandstand
11:45 a.m: Wood Carving Auction – Gazebo
Noon: Exhibit Buildings and Concessions Open
Noon: Rides Open
12-7:00 p.m: Kids Artist, Glimmer Tattoos – KidZone
12:30 p.m: Cheerleading Competition – Grandstand
12:30-1:30 p.m: Character Visits – KidZone
1:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
1:00 p.m: Pee Wee Swine Showmanship – North End of Show Arena
2:00 p.m: Children’s Pedal Tractor Pull – Shelter House
2-4:00 p.m: Character Visits – KidZone
2:30 p.m: Magic Man – KidZone
3:30 p.m: Showmen of Showmen Contest – Show Arena
4:00 p.m: Approximate time when grand and reserve champion livestock is released
4:00 p.m: Team Zoom – KidZone
5-7:00 p.m: Girl Scout award program – Community Building
5-8:00 p.m: Gospel Music – Shelter House
6:00 p.m: Demolition Derby – Grandstand
7:00 p.m: Junior Fair & Open Class Livestock Entries Released
8:00 p.m: Commercial Exhibits Released
9:00 p.m: Market Livestock Released
10:30 p.m: Food Concessions Released

Fair Date: September 5th – 10th, 2023

Location: Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 Letson Avenue, Kenton, OH 43326

Click here for more information.