~ PVN staff report
LURAY, Aug. 22 — While the 70th edition of the Page Valley Agricultural and Industrial Fair officially kicked off on Saturday, fair activities get into full swing tonight as Monday features “Kid’s Night”.
All school-aged children will be admitted FREE on Monday night, as well as senior citizens over age 60 and military personnel. Snyder’s Amusements will be providing carnival rides and games all week from 6 to 11 p.m. at the fairgrounds. While armbands for rides will normally be $20 Tuesday through Saturday, “Kid’s Night” offers $15 armbands on Monday.
The Youth Horse Show opened the festivities Saturday morning, as well as the entering of youth and horticulture exhibits competing for blue ribbons. A special Food Pantry Bingo event was held on Sunday afternoon to support Page One.
Grandstand events kick into gear Monday night
with a performance by TikTok sensation Spencer Hatcher.
Adult exhibits were entered on Monday, with judging taking place at 4 p.m. A beef showmanship / heifer show and market was also held Monday morning.
The big event for Monday — in addition to Kid’s Night — is a special parade planned at 6 p.m. in Downtown Luray to celebrate 7 decades of the Page Valley Fair. The parade route will flow east along Main Street from Broad Street to Reservoir Avenue.
In 1952, a group of farmers got together to create the first fair in the county due to concerns over outside companies not providing enough local agricultural presence. It took place in the field in front of then-Luray High School (now Luray Middle School) with a few vendors and a few animals. Following the event’s success, the Board of Directors for the fair association was formed in 1953. The Page Valley Fair found a permanent home in 1957, when it moved to the current fairgrounds following the departure of the Circle Seven Rodeo.
While rides and games have been added, the focus on Future Famers of America and 4-H projects and livestock shows continue to be central to fair activities seven decades later.
Tuesday through Thursday of this year’s event continues with swine showmanship and the market hog show Tuesday morning, sheep showmanship with the ewe show and market lamb show Wednesday morning, and the goat showmanship and market goat show on Thursday morning.
Truck and tractor pulls will provide grandstand entertainment on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the 2022 Diesel Drag will take the dirt field on Thursday evening. All three grandstand events start at 7 p.m.
On Friday, the grandstand offers a crowd favorite
— the 2022 Demolition Derby — also starting at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, the 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale will take place at 3 p.m. (See links to the last two year’s Page Valley Fair Livestock Sale results below.)
Then at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, the big musical event of the week will open with The Hackens Boys, who first formed in 2005 performing “Southern rock goodness” and have “grown from a camp fire jam session to an award-winning Virginia favorite and beyond,” according to promotional material provided by the fair.
Then it’s time for the headliners, Confederate Railroad, who plays 100-plus shows a year all across the country with favorites like “Trashy Women”, “Queen of Memphis” and “She Never Cried.” Described as “rowdy country with raw emotion,” the band is known for hanging around after shows to meet fans, pose for pictures and hand out autographs.
Grandstand events on Monday through Friday are included with gate admission. However, Saturday night’s concert requires a special ticket — reserved/trackside $35; grandstand $25. Grandstand gates open at 6:30 p.m.
New this year to the Page Valley Fair — a beer garden will be open Wednesday through Saturday nights at $15 per person.
Live music will also be performed at the Pavilion all week for free, including:
- Tuesday, Aug. 23 — Country Line ( 7-10 p.m.)
- Wednesday, Aug. 24 — Joe Quick (7-9:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, Aug. 25 — Lonesome Creek (8-11 p.m.)
- Friday, Aug. 26 — Josh Davidson/Brandon Bauserman (7-10 p.m.)
Page Valley Fair gates open at 4 p.m. daily.
Daily passes will be $10 for adults, and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Under age 6 admitted free. Season gate passes are $35 for adults and $20 for children ages 6 to 12 (with ages under 6 still free). Admission includes grandstand events, except Saturday night. Daily passes are available at Page Co-Op and Lancaster Enterprises in Luray, as well as the gate.
For more information, call 540-THE-FAIR (540-843-3247), or visit their website (link below).
Fairgrounds located at 15 Fairlane Drive, Luray, VA 22835
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
69th annual Page Valley Fair offers fun for all ages all week
2021 Heritage Festival set for Columbus Day weekend at Page Valley Fairgrounds
2021 Page County 4-H/FFA Livestock Show results
2021 Page County 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction buyers
2020 Page County 4-H/FFA Livestock Show results
Be the first to comment