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TICKET SALES
Tickets for Frankie Ballard will go on sale starting June 19 at the fair office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sales will continue every Saturday, except July 3, then through fair week until concert day.
Cash or check only.
Sorry, credit cards.
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HARTFORD - The Van Buren Youth Fair has announced Warner Brothers’ recording artist Frankie Ballard will headline its Thursday night, July 22, grandstand entertainm
ent.
The Battle Creek, Mich. native’s musical career received a big boost in March of 2009, when he signed with Warner Brothers Records, and last fall, began work on his debut album.
In 2008, Ballard won Kenny Chesney’s “The Next Big Star” competition for Michigan and opened for Chesney on the Poets & Pirates tour at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, and also at Ford Field in Detroit.
Trackside seats are $10, while hillside seats are $5. Five and under are free. It does not include fair admission.
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The Van Buren Youth Fair Board also announced that work will begin soon on fair building improvements.
A Hamilton, Mich. construction company has been awarded the $60,632.80 contract to remove and replace roofs on the commercial and 4-H building located on the fairgrounds.
Wedeven Brothers Construction Company will begin work May 1, and anticipates completing the projects by June 15, according to Van Buren Youth Fair Board member Steve Serdel.
Total cost of the commercial building roof was $27,088.30, while the 4-H building roof replacement was pegged at $33,544.50.
Both buildings were constructed during the early 1970s.
The board also announced that it will continue to pay full premiums to youth and adult exhibitors this year, after state funding was cut last year.
The state announced last year that it would cut funding to all 86 fairs located throughout the state, and according to Fair Board President Luis Godines, the state’s announcement came as the fair already had its 2009 schedule well into place. The fair board decided to pay full premiums for youth and adults, with the option of reviewing the issue again this year.
Several groups and organizations have stepped up this year to assist the fair in paying those premiums to the 4-H and open class exhibitors.
The Van Buren 4-H Leaders Association recently donated $2,000, while the Van Buren Sheriff’s Mounted Division and the Van Buren Junior Livestock Producers Association each donated $1,000.
Skerbeck Brothers Shows will again offer carnival rides and amusements this year, according to Godines.
This year, a new segment will be offered - a “Mega Pass” that will allow fairgoers unlimited access to the rides during fair week.
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Pre-sale Mega Pass ride tickets. good for Monday through Saturday, July 19-24, are $50. On Monday, July 19, the price will be $60.
Those tickets will be available soon at the fairgrounds, located on the corner of County Road 681 and Red Arrow Highway, midway between Hartford and Lawrence.
Skerbeck Brothers Shows, of Escanaba, Mich., has provided family entertainment since 1857. A century and a half later, Skerbeck Carnival is the largest family owned and operated carnival in Michigan.
Skerbecks will also offer a “Read For Rides” program that will be announced shortly by participating Van Buren District branch libraries. It marks the second year for this program.
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