Semiquincentennial ‘top priority’ at this year’s Big Butler Fair
The fireworks display at the Big Butler Fair will be double the size of previous years in recognition of America’s semiquincentennial on Saturday, July 4. It will be at least 45 minutes long as the 250th birthday of the U.S. is the top priority for the fair this year.
“America 250 is taking priority,” said Clint Cehily, vice president for the Butler Fair and Agriculture Association, which organizes the annual fair. “We’re having a 175-year party in five years, but America 250 is our top priority right now.”
The Big Butler Fair takes place from July 3 through 11 — “Always over the Fourth,” as one of its slogans goes — and each evening features a different event.
Cehily said returning events include crowd-pleasers like the school bus demolition derby, several tractor pulls, figure-8 track racing, and the ever-popular rodeo and bull rides. He said the grandstand events, including the demolition derbies and rodeo, fill the seats, so the fair’s organizers don’t mess with them. He added the events are popular for participants as well as for audiences.
What is new this year is a car cruise, organized by the Rodfathers of Butler, which will take place on Saturday, July 4, at the fair. Cehily said there will be unique vehicles at the fair for the viewing pleasure of attendees starting at noon and preceding the fireworks show that evening.
The last day of the fair, Saturday, July 11, will be closed by a musical performance by Larry Fleet, taking place at 7 p.m. in the grand stands.
Each day of the fair will also feature its carnival; vendors; additional shows and performances; animal shows and judging; and lots and lots of food.
Gates open at 11 a.m. daily and at 9 a.m. on weekends and Saturday, July 4, for the Big Butler Fair, 1127 New Castle Road, Prospect. The carnival midway opens at 3 p.m. daily and 1 p.m. on weekends and Saturday, July 4, according to the fair’s website.
Cehily said the Fourth of July holiday, combined with the hype around the semiquincentennial this year, has the fair’s organizers expecting a crowd even larger than its usual 100,000 visitors.
“We hope this will be our biggest one yet,” Cehily said.
For a complete list of events and the schedule for the Big Butler Fair, visit its website at bigbutlerfair.com.
