The 79th Annual Crawford County Fair will officially begin Tuesday, July 14, and continue through Saturday, July 18, at Hood Park in Cuba. This year’s theme is “Red, White, & Route 66,” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the historic highway.

Pre-fair activities will begin Sunday, when the 4-H Exhibit Hall will be open for entries from 2 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 14

Tuesday is Family Fun Night with free admission to the fairgrounds from 6 to 10 p.m. Carnival armbands for unlimited midway rides will be available for $20 Tuesday only. FFA entries will be accepted from 2 to 5 p.m., while Home Economics, Agriculture, and Flower Show entries will be taken from 3 to 5 p.m. and again from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Also Tuesday, cured ham and bacon judging, which is open to the public, will begin at noon, and poultry check-in for state-required pullorum testing will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Lineup for the annual fair parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Mizell Funeral Home & Crematory, with floats judged at 5 p.m. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and travel east on Route 66 to the fairgrounds. Carnival rides will be open from 6 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 15

The market steer weigh-in will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Gates open at 8 a.m. with daily admission of $15, which includes carnival rides.

Agriculture Department entries will be accepted from 8 to 10 a.m., queen coronation practice will begin at 8 a.m., the exhibit hall opens at 9 a.m., and the poultry show begins at 9 a.m. Rabbit judging and awards will follow.

The Fair Board food booth will open at 10 a.m. and livestock exhibits will be open to the public beginning at 2 p.m. The beer garden and wine tent will open at 6 p.m. The annual horse and pony show in the Mitchell Family Arena begins at 6 p.m., as does the queen talent competition (Holiday Ranch Golf Club Stage), followed by the children’s pageant at 7 p.m. (Beer Garden Stage). Amped Up Productions bull riding and barrel racing will also begin at 7 p.m. The queen coronation ceremony is scheduled for 9 p.m., and the exhibit hall will close for the evening at that time. The livestock barns close at 11 p.m.

Thursday, July 16

The gates will open at 6:30 a.m. Thursday with daily admission of $15. The swine show will begin at 7 a.m., followed by the breeding gilt show. The exhibit hall opens at 8 a.m., with youth pageant practice beginning at the Holiday Ranch Golf Club Stage. The Fair Board food booth opens at 10 a.m.

Livestock competitions throughout Thursday include the sheep and goat show at 1 p.m., dairy cattle show at 3 p.m., bucket calf show at 3:30 p.m., crossbred heifer show at 4:30 p.m., and market steer show at 5:30 p.m.

Carnival rides will operate from 6 to 10:30 p.m., and the beer garden and wine tent will open at 6 p.m. The Prince and Princess Contest will begin at 7 p.m. on the Holiday Ranch Golf Club Stage. Amped Up Productions bull riding and barrel racing will also begin at 7 p.m. in the arena, followed by the youth pageant at 8:30 p.m. on the Holiday Ranch Golf Club Stage. The exhibit hall will close at 9 p.m. and livestock barns at 11 p.m.

Friday, July 17

Friday’s gates will open at 8 a.m. with daily admission of $25, which includes carnival rides. The exhibit hall opens at 9 a.m. The rooster crowing contest also begins at 9 a.m. at the poultry barn. The dog show (swine show ring) and breeding cattle show will begin at 10 a.m.

The 4-H Family Fun Day begins at 1 p.m., followed by the Livestock Award pictures at 3 p.m. The cornhole tournament is scheduled for 5 p.m. (show arena), and the Super Farmer Contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. (Mitchell Family Arena). Registration for the kiddie pedal tractor pull begins at 5:30 p.m., with the pull starting at 6 p.m.

Carnival rides will operate from 6 to 11 p.m., and the beer garden opens at 6 p.m. The XCaliber truck and tractor pull will begin at 7 p.m. in the arena.

Friday night’s entertainment features country music artist Chris Cagle at 8:30 p.m. on the Holiday Ranch Golf Club Stage. Centerstage Band will perform afterward on the beer garden stage.

Saturday, July 17

Gates will open at 8 a.m. Saturday with daily admission of $25. The exhibit hall opens at 9 a.m., followed by the Fair Board food booth at 10 a.m. Livestock awards will be presented at 10 a.m., and the livestock auction will begin at 11 a.m.

The antique tractor pull will begin at 11 a.m. in the arena, with the garden tractor pull to follow. The beer garden and wine tent will open at 11 a.m. Carnival rides will operate from noon to 4 p.m. and again from 6 to 11 p.m.

Home Economics and Agriculture Department exhibits may be picked up from 6 to 8 p.m., while exhibit hall items may be picked up from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Lewis Diesel Performance will host diesel dirt drags in the arena beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday night’s entertainment features Giovannie and the Hired Guns at 8:30 p.m. on the Holiday Ranch Golf Club Stage. Hunter Heathcoat Band will perform afterward on the beer garden stage.

Advance season passes are $35 through Tuesday and will be $40 at the gate. Passes or daily admission are required for everyone age 5 and older. More information is available in the 2026 Crawford County Fair Book.