PARKER, S.D. (KELO) — In Parker, the four best days of summer are right around the corner. The oldest running county fair in South Dakota kicks off Monday.
The livestock is starting to arrive, and some vendors have set up shop. This year’s Turner County Fair is taking shape.
“I am excited for tomorrow. I truly love the fair,” fair secretary Tanya Netesov said.
“There’s a lot of moving parts here today,” fair manager Steve Wilke said.
This is Wilke’s first year as fair manager, and he has kept busy.
“Because it is a free fair, we’re going around making sure we’ve got the proper parking around everything, that all the vendors get in safely today and that the 4-H starts coming in with their exhibits, which makes it a very busy afternoon,” Wilke said.
“Tonight, the carnival will come in, and after that, we’re pretty much good to go,” Netesov said.
Staff also spent some time sprucing up the fairgrounds, which included putting a few extra coats of paint on the grandstands.
“The grandstand had not been painted since 1997, so all people joining the grandstand events this week will see some brighter, newer looking wood. It’s sucked up a lot of gallons of paint,” Wilke said.
Tickets for those grandstand events have also been a hot commodity.
“There are a few spots left for the demolition derby. The figure eight races are doing very well, and Enduro has got some spaces yet. Then, Monday night, the bulls, barrels and broncs have got some openings in as well. Grandstand ticket sales have been very good,” Wilke said.
But that’s not the only thing you can enjoy this week.
“They can expect some fun rides, they can expect some really great food as they come to the fair and a really great community,” Netesov said.
A Turner County tradition since 1880.
Gates open Monday morning, and the fair runs through Thursday. For a full list of events, click here.
