The Steele County Free Fair is an annual week-long summer county fair held in
Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna () is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fair ...
, United States, the county seat of
Steele County. It is the largest free
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
fair in Minnesota, displaying over 2,000 animals each year and hosting over 450 vendors who sell food, commercial goods and services, and arts and crafts.
History
The first fair in Steele County was held on October17, 1860. Prizes were awarded for categories such as "best 6 yoke of working oxen", "best butter churn", and "best wagon made in county". Horse racing featured.
There is no record of the fair having taken place between 1861 and 1871, possibly due to the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
. In 1872 it was held in a pasture on Main Street, and until 1917 it was held at various locations in the community. It moved to its current location in 1918. By 1927 the fair became a "free fair" with no admission charged.
In the 1930s the fair introduced auto racing and grandstand stage shows with chorus lines, as addition to its traditional attractions.
Free entertainment stages were added in 1979.
No fair was held between 1942 and 1945 because of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, nor 2020 on grounds of
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
.
The modern fair
The fair runs for one week during each summer. Entry to the fair is free, although it does cost to park. The fair is one of the largest in the region, claiming to be "the largest free fair in Minnesota"
24 bands and entertainers perform on the fair's various stages.
The fair is focused on agriculture; about 2,000 animals are displayed each year, and the fastest growing attractions are the horses. Vendors came from 25 states in 2016 and staffed 500 booths, including 100 food stands. Other attractions and events include a talent show, a "Kid's Pedal Pull", and an automobile museum.
Attendance records
References
External links
*http://www.scff.org/
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Annual fairs
Fairs in the United States
Festivals in Minnesota
Tourist attractions in Steele County, Minnesota