Big change is coming to this year’s Vinland Fair, said Julie Craig.

With a moment’s thought, the co-president of the Vinland Fair Board with her husband, Mike Craig, amends the statement to say there’s only one change, but it’s important because it involves one of the event’s biggest draws: The tractor pull will start at 11 a.m. Saturday instead of in the evening so that the event’s organizers will be able to leave the fairgrounds before the early-morning hours, she said.

Other than that, no changes are planned for the three-day annual event that starts Thursday and continues through Saturday at the Vinland Fairgrounds, 1736 North 700 Road.

“That’s what we pride ourselves on,” she said. “It doesn’t change. It’s good food, homemade pie, live music and wholesome family fun. This is different from all the other fairs, because it has an old-fashioned feel. The food is definitely worth coming out for. We have great live music every night.”

Julie’s husband, Mike, said the fair has remained true to its turn-of-the century roots. And by turn-of-the century, he means the 20th century. The fair was first held 109 years ago.

Those who travel to the southern Douglas County hamlet of Vinland for the fair will find no garish carnival to compete with the scarecrow-making and watermelon-seed spitting contests or the Thursday talent show. The fair specializes in children’s activities from farm skills contests to bicycle races to old-time games like tug-of-war and sack races.

Those events are his favorite, Mike Craig said.

“I get a kick out of the pet parade and the kids’ races on Friday,” he said. “It’s just neat to see the older kids who grew up with the fair still get out and enjoy watching the younger ones in all the activities.”

The fair and all its events are free, although fair organizers encourage those attending to buy a meal to support the fair or local Vinland 4-H Club. The menu will be 4-H Club-served pork burgers and hot dogs on Thursday. The fair board will offer barbecued pork or beef and the fair’s signature chicken noodle dinners on Friday. Beef brisket and barbecued beef and pork dinners are on Saturday’s menu. Homemade fruit pies are available all three nights.

Another taste treat is Saturday’s homemade ice cream contest, Julie Craig said. Those in attendance can have a serving of the entries at 7 p.m., she said.

While her husband grew up with the fair, Julie Craig said she never attended the event while growing up in Baldwin City.

“My first Vinland Fair was after we got married,” she said. “It’s been a blessing. We love it some much. We are going to do our best to keep it going forever.”