Summit County Fair program expanded for 116th fair; rodeo nights, drone show and sustainability efforts planned

Summit County’s 116th County Fair is set for Aug. 2–9, with organizers increasing rodeo performances to three nights, introducing a drone show and expanding family and sustainability programming, Fair Manager Tyler Bridal told the council.

Bridal said the fair will kick off Aug. 2 with a demolition derby, followed by buckaroo rodeo performances on Tuesday and Wednesday and PRCA rodeo performances Thursday–Saturday. "This will be our third contract with Sammy Andrews Rodeo Company," Bridal said, adding that organizers saw improved participation and quality after switching stock contractors and that increasing to three nights helps attract cowboys because of travel scheduling.

For sustainability, Bridal said the fair will repeat last year’s waste-sorting program — staffed stations with separate bins for compost, recycling and trash — and is asking food vendors to move away from Styrofoam and toward compostable or recyclable serving containers. "If we can get compostable or recyclable food serving containers from each of the food vendors, I think that’ll really be good," Bridal said. He also noted plans to use solar generators provided by county sustainability staff and to expand public-education touchpoints about landfill and composting.

Bridal said family-focused activities will increase and that the county has moved the Miss Summit County pageant to June 14. He asked council members to consider participating in fair activities, including royalty-driving opportunities during the demolition derby. Council members responded positively and pledged to help where they can.