Free fair will offer lots of fun

LEHI — This year's county fair is one day shorter, one month earlier and 100 percent cheaper.

Because the County Commission upped the funding for the fair from an annual amount of about $40,000 to more than $150,000, there is no admission fee.

"We just felt it would make it more accessible to more people," said fair director John Whittaker. "And because it's free, there's no perimeter fence. That will give us more opportunity to do more on the property."

Whittaker said while the rest of Thanksgiving Point's venues will still charge entrance fees, they will all adapt their offerings to relate to the fair.

"We'll involve the Dinosaur Museum, the cooking classes, to be fair-related, if you will," said Whittaker.

Last year, nearly 30,000 people attended the fair despite stormy weather.

Whittaker expects this year the numbers will be higher, especially if the weather cooperates.

"If the weather's great, we anticipate a great opening," he said.

On the list of things to do and see at the fair are more local entertainers, more cowboy poetry, more livestock, more 4-H exhibits, the Farm Bureau Talent Find (July 20 at 5 p.m. in the Show Barn), the Miss Utah County Pageant (July 13 at 7 p.m. in the Show Barn), a Ms. Senior Utah Pageant (July 21 at 7 p.m. in the Show Barn) and nightly fireworks shows.

The Midway Carnival is back, and advance tickets are currently on sale: 20 tickets for $15 (on sale at the Thanksgiving Point box office or by calling the Utah County 4-H office at 851-8470).

Seven museums, including the flying Air Force museum with combat aircraft, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers with crafts and weaving demonstrations, the Utah Firefighters Museum with vintage firefighting apparatus and the This Is the Place Heritage Park with a handcart and a blacksmith will be set up for exploration.

A free trolley will be circling the area with stops at the water tower, Farm Country, the Museum of Ancient Life, the east gate of Electric Park, the Gardens Visitors Center and the Children's Discovery Gardens every hour from noon to 8 p.m.

If you go:

What: 2007 Utah County Fair

Where: Electric Park, Thanksgiving Point in Lehi

When: 4-10 p.m. July 19; noon to 10 p.m. July 20 and 21

Cost: free admission; rides and concessions extra

Phone: 768-2300

Web: www.thanksgivingpoint.com

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E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com