Country star to perform at 2013 fair

VW independent/VW County Fair news

This year’s Van Wert County Fair will include Saturday night entertainment, as well as a number of new and traditional events and activities.

The 2013 edition of the county fair will be run from Wednesday, August 28, through Monday, September 2.  The fair office will open Monday, July 8, for the upcoming season, with hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday.

Single-day fair entry has been reduced to $5, due in part to the financial support from friends of the fair via donations to the annual patron program. Six-day tickets stay at $18, or $3 entry per day.
The Saturday night concert returns to the fair with Country star James Otto in concert, starting at 8 p.m. August 31. Otto is a contemporary country music performer with two previous Grammy Award nominations. His rich voice, with a county-soul flavor, has become well known since the release of his first charted single in 2002. Otto has produced three albums, with the second album’s lead-off single, “Just Got Started Lovin’ You,” becoming a No. 1 hit, as well as earning a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Male Country Vocal Performance”.
Otto is also a successful songwriter, having earned a Grammy nomination for co-writing Jamey Johnson’s single “In Color” and the Zac Brown Band’s 2012 single “No Hurry”. Area residents can listen to Otto’s music at his website: www.jamesotto.net.

The opening act for Otto is the well-known Ohio group Exploit, a band with a great range of music.  Exploit has previously performed in the Van Wert area and the band is looking forward to a good turnout when it opens for Otto.

Ticket prices for the concert are $20 for track and box seats and $15 for grandstand seating. Ticket sales begin Monday, July 8, at the fair office or by phone by calling 419.238.9270.
A new, improved Kids’ Day scheduled for Thursday, August 29, will have reduced gate entry of only $3 for everyone, while children age 8 and under can enter free every day. Veterans and Senior Day is Friday, with free gate entry for veterans and senior citizens.

The Van Wert County Fair auto demo derby continues to a big attraction and will be held Sunday, September 1, at 7 p.m. A new event this year is a heavyweight horse pull to be held on Sunday at noon.

The high school band show will be held on Monday, September 2, at 7 p.m. The show has been revamped with new support from sponsors, allowing for a tremendous show on the last day of the fair. Also look for new and expanded free entertainment during the upcoming fair.

The Van Wert County Fairgrounds extends a gracious “See You at the Fair” and hopes the surrounding community will find this year’s fair a great place to renew old, and start new family traditions, while having a fun time at the 157th County Fair.