Country music great Martina McBride to perform at Boone County Fair

Four time CMA female vocalist of the year Martina McBride will headline the 2016 Boone County Fair, 8791 Route 76, which runs from Tuesday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 14.

Multiple Grammy nominee Martina McBride performs Saturday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. Hear her latest songs from her just released album ‘Reckless’ plus other previous hits such as “A Broken Wing,” “This One’s for the Girls,” and “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.”

Tickets are only $25 for reserved grandstand and general admission track seating.

New on Wednesday evening will be ‘The Calibrated Power Solutions Diesel Truck Shoot Out Challenge.’  Watch two classes of trucks, the 8,000 Stock Diesel and the Clean Diesel compete in the Shoot Out.

The winner of each of the two classes will have the longest combined pulling distances from the McHenry County Fair (Aug. 6) and the Boone County Fair Wednesday night.

There will also be three other classes of trucks competing at 6:30 p.m.: the 6,800 Gas Truck, the Open Diesel Truck, and the Altered Stock Truck.  Tickets are only $7 for grandstand or $5 for bleacher seats.

The next Level Professional Bull Riding with Mutton Bustin’ at the grandstand Friday evening at 7 p.m. for only $10.

Tractor Pulls will be all day Thursday with the super tractor and truck pulls at 6:30 p.m. $5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Tickets are $10 for the 6:30 p.m. show.

Sunday features two great Demo Derby Shows at 1p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for each show.

The annual Queen Pageant will kick off the festivities on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. with a free grandstand with this year’s theme being ‘Christmas at the Fair.’

Free entertainment includes The Royal Bengal Tigers Show, The Great American Duck Race, The Real Beal’s One Man Band, and Mr. D’s Amazing House of Magic.  All of these acts will perform several times every day.

The Entertainment Pavilion has free entertainment all day, everyday plus there’s a large midway, animals galore, home arts exhibits, hundreds of commercial vendors, and a wide variety of food to please every member of the family.

Other free attractions include the largest antique tractor display in the Midwest, a restored one room schoolhouse, the Grange museum, and the 4-H Wee Farm Petting Zoo.

New this year in the livestock barns will be a ‘Fair Scavenger Hunt’ families can participate in.  The Scavenger Hunt will be conducted by 4-H and the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau.

Forms will be available in the barns, the Farm Bureau exhibit, or the 4-H food stand.

Find the clues, complete the hunt and win a prize.

Admissions to the fair are only $6 ($5 Tuesday) and children 10 and under are free every day.  Seniors 65 and over are free on Thursday.  Season Tickets are only $18.

Grandstand show tickets go on sale on Saturday, July 9 at 8 a.m. Season tickets will be on sale at locations throughout Belvidere including area banks and at the fairgrounds ticket office during July.

The fair is located one mile north of Belvidere on Route 76.

For more information and a complete schedule of events go to boonecountyfair.com. The Granges of Boone County have owned and operated the fair and fairgrounds since 1957.  Enjoy a family adventure in the country.