photo by: Mike Yoder

Demolition derby spectators watch from the stands against the backdrop of Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival at the 2024 Douglas County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.

From livestock shows to live music, from carnival rides to crashing cars, it seems like there’s something for everyone at the Douglas County Fair, and it will all kick off in earnest in the last week of July.

Technically, the fair has already begun — it started with 4-H contests for dogs, cats and hand pets last Saturday, and a handful of other contests will take place within the next week. But the biggest events of the fair take place from Tuesday, July 29, through Saturday, Aug. 2.

While you will have to pay for rides and games at the Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival, which opens on July 30, the fair events themselves don’t charge admission, with the exception of the popular Demolition Derby on Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2. That event costs $19.20 for a single night’s admission and $30.57 for both nights. You can buy tickets at the fair office starting at noon on Wednesday, July 31, or online at eventbrite.com

Some events will be going on almost every day: cornhole contests will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. July 29 through Aug. 1 at the Open Pavilion, with a championship to be held Saturday, Aug. 2. From July 30 through Aug. 2, the petting zoo will be open from 1 to 9 p.m., and pony rides will be available from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 30 and 31 and from 2 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 1 and 2.

Below is a day-by-day look at some of the fair’s highlights; to see the complete schedule and more detailed information about the contests and events, visit dgcountyfair.com.

Tuesday, July 29

Livestock shows: Poultry show, 8 a.m. at the Open Pavilion; dairy goat and meat goat show, 6 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

Live music: Jack Dunker and The Ellman Brothers, 7 to 10 p.m.

• Touch-a-truck, 6 to 8 p.m. in the North Dreher parking lot. Children can get an up-close look at fire engines and other pieces of equipment.

Wednesday, July 30

Livestock shows: Rabbit show, 8:30 a.m. at the Open Pavilion; dairy cow show, 11 a.m. at the Community Building; swine show, 5 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

Live music: The Back-Atcha Band, 7 to 10 p.m.

Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival: Open from 6 to 11 p.m.

• Big red sled garden tractor pull, 7 p.m. at the outdoor arena.

Thursday, July 31

Livestock shows: Llama and alpaca show, 9 a.m. at the Open Pavilion; small livestock round robin, 10:30 a.m. at the Open Pavilion; sheep show, 6 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

Live music: Big Rick Soul Band, 7 to 10 p.m.

Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival: Open from 6 to 11 p.m.

• Antique tractor pull, 6 p.m. at the outdoor arena.

• Dairy goat milking contest, 8 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

Friday, Aug. 1

Livestock shows: Bucket calf show and beef show, 8:30 a.m. at the Community Building.

Live music: Delta Haze, 7 to 10 p.m.

Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival: Open from 6 to midnight.

• The Lawrence Comics Stand-Up Comedy Team, 2 p.m. at the stage area.

• Bale throwing contest, registration opens at 5:30 p.m. and contest begins at 6 p.m. at the blacktop area.

• Demolition derby, gates open at 6:30 p.m., derby starts at 7:30 p.m. at the outdoor arena.

Saturday, Aug. 2

Livestock shows: Large livestock round robin, 9 a.m. at the Open Pavilion.

Live music: Savanna Chestnut, 8 to 10 p.m.

Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival: Family Day at the carnival is from 1 to 5 p.m., and the carnival will stay open from 5 p.m. to midnight.

• Turtle race, 10 a.m., stage area on the blacktop.

• Pedal tractor pull, registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and contest begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Douglas County Farm Bureau Pavilion.

• Barnyard Olympics, 11 a.m. at the Community Building.

• Cornhole championship, noon at the Open Pavilion.

• Awards ceremony, 3 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

• Ice cream social, 4 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

• 4-H livestock auction, 5:30 p.m. at the Open Pavilion.

• Demolition derby, gates open at 6:30 p.m., derby starts at 8 p.m. at the outdoor arena.