Carnival
======

Madison County Fair is pleased to host the Heart of America Carnival. Madison boasts the largest midway in Northeast Nebraska. Come on out and check it out!

Wristbands: $35.00 Wednesday & Thursday, $40 Friday – Sunday

Carnival Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 6:00-10:00 pm
Friday 6:00-11:00 pm
Saturday 4:00-11:00 pm
Sunday 4:00-10:00 pm

Fair Entertainment
=============

Evening Entertainment

Midstates Championship
Rodeo
7:30 pm
July 8th – 10th

Jo Dee Messina
9:30 PM
Kameron Marlowe
8:00 PM
July 11th

Hairball
8:45 PM
The Rude Band
7:30 PM
July 12th

Rosendo Robles
6:00 PM
FREE!
July 13th

Buy Tickets
****CLEAR BAG policy in effect for all events. ALL bags subject to search.****

Jo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina, a chart-topping country music artist, is known for her powerful vocals and extensive catalog of hits. A household name, Jo Dee has achieved nine No. 1 and sixteen Top 40 songs and has been honored by the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and GRAMMY Awards. Jo Dee’s successes made her the first female in country music history to celebrate three consecutive multi-week, chart-topping songs.

Leader of the charge in country music’s “90s resurgence,” Jo Dee’s digital streams and YouTube views are beyond the billions barrier and consistently climbing. Additionally, her social media accounts, which include numerous viral posts, are collectively followed by millions of fans.

In addition to her studio accomplishments, Jo Dee’s passionate and high-energy performances have captivated audiences at every tour stop. Jo Dee continuously sells out venues of all types, with a live show that entertains fans of all ages and gives them opportunities to create memories, as generations come together and sing the songs that continue to make up much of their lives’ soundtracks.

Jo Dee is one of the most passionate, high-energy performers in the business. Sharing her hit tunes; unreleased, emotionally driven songs; worship music; and personal testimony, she travels the country and receives rave reviews for her authenticity, commitment, and openness on stage.

Hairball

A band puts on a concert – Hairball puts on an event! Hairball is a Rock & Roll experience you won’t soon forget. The lights, sound, smoke, fire, bombs, and screaming hoards of avid fans…to merely call it a concert would be like calling Mount Rushmore a roadside attraction!

Vocalists Kris Vox, Dave Moody, and Patrick Stone lead the band through a 2+ hour, mind-blowing, and drop dead accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world. Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, and Aerosmith are but a few of the acts fans will see brought to life. The Hairball stage becomes an entirely new rock concert before your very eyes countless times throughout the night.

The motor that drives the Hairball dragster consists of HBK on the electric bass, Billy on the drums, and Happy on the lead guitar. These Rock & Roll soldiers pride themselves on nailing some of the most memorable licks and chops of all time, while adding their own style and flare that they’ve cultivated over decades of tireless performing. This isn’t a side job. These guys eat, sleep and breathe Rock & Roll!

2025 finds Hairball celebrating its 25th year of rocking hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Constantly adding more characters, more pyrotechnics, more lights, more sound, more props, more surprises…more everything! While Happy often tells the audience “Today is the first day is the rest of your life!” Hairball performs every show as though it could be their last. Every night is a 100% full-on, no-holds-barred, exciting, chaotic, fiery party that has to be experienced to be believed!

As important to Hairball as the music, are its fans. While many bands claim to have the best fans in the world, Hairball actually has! Whether they are 10 years old or 100, Hairball fans bring an unparalleled enthusiasm and energy to the show that enhances the arena experience. Hairball knows it wouldn’t exist without its fans and takes every opportunity to let them know that.

Whether it’s a pre-show meet and greet, hanging out at the merch booth, or chatting online, Hairball has a lot in common with its fans and it’s always a good time when they get together. Don’t confuse Hairball with the countless “80’s Tribute” bands across the country. Hairball is an experience, an attitude, and expression of music that isn’t simply a retro flashback, it’s a way of life!

Fair Schedule
=========
*Events Subject to Change without Notice*

Monday, July 7, 2025
==============

8:00am-12:00pm All 4-H Static Exhibits judging

1:00pm – 7:00pm Open Class Exhibits can be delivered-non perishable items ONLY; no judging

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Tuesday, July 8, 2025
==============

Fair Office Open
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
*4H Building Closed for Set Up*

8:00am – 12:00pm 4H Judging for Food and Garden

8:00am – 11:00 Open Class can be delivered-all exhibits — exhibits brought in after 11:00am will be displayed but NOT JUDGED

1:00pm Open Class Judging begins

Loess Hill Heatwave Drill Team – performing before rodeo

7:30pm Mid-States Championship Rodeo

Meet & Greet the Rodeo Queens – after the Rodeo

9:00pm – Midnight DJ Kraemer dance in Activity Center

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
================

Fair Office Open
7:00 am – 7:00 pm

7:30am-10:30am 4-H / FFA Weigh Ins

9:00am 4-H / FFA Dog Show & Open Class Show

11:00am-9:00pm Kid Zone/Model Train Building

Open Railroad Building

1:00pm 4-H / FFA Rabbit Show

2:00pm-3:30pm Bucket Calf Interviews

4:00pm 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

Heart of America Carnival

4-H Scholarships awarded – Before Rodeo

7:30pm Mid-States Championship Rodeo

Dance, DJ, Dustin Kraemer
Activity Center
10:00 – 1:00am

Open Class Building
10:00am-11:00pm

4-H Building
Open 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

5:00pm-9:00pm One Room Schoolhouse Open

Glass Blowing and/or Blacksmith, check area for schedule

Free Caricature Drawings, check area for schedule

World’s Funniest Photo Booth, check area for schedule

The Living Zultar, check area for schedule

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Thursday, July 10, 2025
================

Fair Office Open
7:00 am – 7:00 pm

8:30am Dairy Show

9:00am Horse Show

9:30am Hog Show

4:00pm-11:00pm Mechanical Bull Rides – behind Grandstand $5

Heart of America Carnival

7:00pm Quilt of Valor Presentation

7:00pm Aksarben Farm Family Award

7:30pm Mid-States Championship Rodeo & Veteran’s Night

Open Class & School Art
Octagon Building
Open 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

One Room School House
Open 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

4-H Building
Open 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Kids Zone & Model Train Building
Open Railroad Building
11:00 am – 9:00 pm

FREE Root Beer
Floats4:00pm-Gone

Neon Lights
Activity Center
9:00pm – 1:00am

Heart of America Carnival

Glass Blowing and/or Blacksmith, check area for schedule

Free Caricature Drawings, check area for schedule

World’s Funniest Photo Booth, check area for schedule

The Living Zultar, check area for schedule

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Friday, July 11, 2025
==============

Fair Office Open
7:00 am – 7:00 pm

9:00am Sheep Show followed by Meat Goat Show

9:00am Cat Show followed by Open Class Cat Show

Open Class & School Art
Octagon Building
Open 10:00am – 11:00 pm

One Room School House
Open 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

4-H Building
Open 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Kids Zone & Model Train Building
Open Railroad Building
11:00 am – 9:00 pm

2:00pm Companion Animal Show

3:00pm 4-H Bucket Calf Show

4:00pm-11:00pm Mechanical Bull Rides – behind Grandstand $5

7:00pm Concert Gates Open

8:30pm Opening Act Kameron Marlowe

9:30pm Main Event Jo Dee Messina

***Drone show to follow concerts

Heart of America Carnival

Following Drone Show – Beer Garden Dance with Jetley Park

Glass Blowing Demonstrations Daily, check area for schedule

Free Caricature Drawings, check area for schedule

World’s Funniest Photo Booth, check area for schedule

Wildlife Learning Encounters, check area for schedule

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Saturday, July 12, 2025
================

Fair Office Open
7:00 am – 7:00 pm    

7:00-9:30am Breakfast

7:00am-8:30am Stocker Feeder Weigh-In

9:00am Beef Show

9:30am Poultry Show – Open Class Poultry Show to follow

***RELEASE OF LARGE ANIMALS FOLLOWING THE BEEF SHOW

***RELEASE OF SMALL ANIMALS FOLLOWING THE POULTRY SHOW

***NO TRAILERS ALLOWED ON THE GROUNDS AFTER 3:00PM

Open Class & School Art
Octagon Building
Open 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

One Room School House
Open 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

4-H Building
Open 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Kids Zone & Model Train Building
Open Railroad Building
11:00 am – 9:00 pm

4:00pm-11:00pm-Mechanical Bull Rides – behind Grandstand $5

6:30pm Concert Gates Open

7:30pm Opening Act The Rude Band

8:45pm Main Event Hairball

Heart of America Carnival

Following Drone Show – Beer Garden Dance with Jetley Park

Glass Blowing and/or Blacksmith, check area for schedule

Free Caricature Drawings, check area for schedule

World’s Funniest Photo Booth, check area for schedule

The Living Zultar, check area for schedule

Wildlife Learning Encounters, check area for schedule

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Sunday, July 13, 2025
===============

NO 4-H/FFA Animals on the Grounds Today!

Fair Office Open
7:00 am – 5:00 pm

4-H Office Open
7:30 am – 6:00 pm

9:30am-St. Paul’s Church-Activity Center

11:00-12:00-Church with Our Savior, Green Garden Lutheran, Trinity Lutheran Church-Grandstand

12:00pm-1:00pm Hispanic Dance Demonstration by Grupo De Danza Raices De Mexico

Open Class & School Art
Octagon Building
Open 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

One Room School House
Open 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Kids Zone & Model Train Building
Open Railroad Building
11:00 am – 5:00 pm

4:00pm-11:00pm Mechanical Bull Rides – behind Grandstand $5

Cornhole Tournament
Beer Garden Area
Noon
$30 per team, 100% payout top 3 teams

11:30am-12:30pm Picnic Lunch serving hot dogs, chips, and dessert

11:30am-2:00pm Commercial Building-plinko, face painting, balloon animals, blender bike smoothies, bracelets

Angie Kriz & The Polka Tunes
Beer Garden Area
1:00pm-5:00pm

1:30pm Ice Cream Eating Contest

11:30am-2:00 Hula Hoop Bubbles and Photo Booth

2:30 4-H Fashion Show

Heart of America Carnival

4:00 pm-6:00pm Release of 4-H Exhibits & Payment of Premiums
4-H Building/4-H Office

Release of Open Class Exhibits & Payment of Premiums
Octagon Building
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

4:00 Mexican Style Rodeo

4-H OFFICE CLOSED
6:00 pm

6:00pm-9:00pm Rosendo Robles–FREE–
Activity Center            

Glass Blowing and/or Blacksmith, check area for schedule

Free Caricature Drawings, check area for schedule

World’s Funniest Photo Booth, check area for schedule

The Living Zultar, check area for schedule

Wildlife Learning Encounters, check area for schedule

Captain Morgan & Birds-check area for schedule

Monday, July 14, 2025
===============

Pickup Large 4-H Exhibits
4-H Building
11:30 am – 1:30 pm & 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Date: July 8-13, 2025

Venue:
Madison County Fairgrounds
401 W 6th St North
Madison, NE 68748

Buy Tickets

For more info https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/13115/madison-county-fair-and-rodeo?partner_id=240.