By Woodrow Polston
Members of the Vandalia Area Fair Board have been working to set a 2023 events schedule for the Vandalia Area Fairgrounds. Having added new attractions last year, the fairgrounds welcomed new visitors throughout the summer months. In an effort to keep the fairgrounds open with more activities each year, fair board member Frank Wallace said that there may be yet another new attraction in store for 2023.
“We might be hosting a figure eight racing event this year,” said Wallace. “While we are planning on doing it, there has not been a date set for certain yet. We are going to start the year off with two fundraiser events in March. One will be at the fairgrounds on Mar. 10, and the other on Mar. 24, at the Eastern Missouri Family YMCA. After that, the flea market will begin during the first weekend of April,” he added.
Last year, a variety of events kept attendance at the fairgrounds steady as patrons and spectators returned for various activities. On one weekend, car enthusiasts were drawn to the fairgrounds for a classic car show, while another weekend drew cowboys and cowgirls to participate in a team roping event. In July, there was live music and activities during the Lollapalooza event. In the fall months, there were truck and tractor pulls and a trunk or treat for Halloween. Wallace said that all of the regular events will continue this year.
“We will have another day set aside like we did last year for the Lollapalooza event. We have a team roping event set up, we are working on a rodeo, and we are also looking at adding a second truck and tractor pull event. We will also be doing our all-town garage sale barbecues in May and October, which will coincide with the flea market events. We are building back up to the level of activity that we once had before the 2020 pandemic broke out. Our biggest limiting factor is our lack of hands. It takes a lot of volunteers to successfully operate fairground activities. That is one of the primary reasons that we haven’t been able to do the annual fairs here in Vandalia. When you do an event such as a fair, which lasts four or five days, it requires a substantial amount of effort if you do not have the number of people that is needed to make it possible,” said Wallace.
The next meeting of the Vandalia Area Fair Board will be held on Feb. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Vandalia Area fairgrounds. To volunteer or for more information about the fairgrounds, you may reach them on their Facebook page.