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Kalamazoo County approves disbanding Fair Council, sets 2026 fair for Aug. 2–8 and directs RFP for carnival vendor
Summary
After sustained public comment from 4‑H families, the board voted to disband the Fair Council in favor of a staff‑organized working group and set Aug. 2–8, 2026, as the standing fair dates; parks staff presented a $450,000 rough budget and said the county will issue an RFP for carnival services within that window.
Following multiple public comments from 4‑H members and leaders, Kalamazoo County commissioners on Nov. 18 moved to restructure fair governance and fix dates for the 2026 Kalamazoo County Fair.
Parks & Expo Director Dave Rakowitz told the board the Fair Council recommended the parks department take a lead role in organizing the 2026 fair, that the council supported a working‑group model (with subcommittees for security, livestock, marketing and other functions), and that an RFP for carnival companies had been finalized and submitted to purchasing. Rakowitz estimated a rough event budget of…
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