NEW ULM - The Brown County Free Fair opens its gates to the public at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 8 with a number of new wrinkles.
"In addition to things we've had for many years, we keep adding things each year, hoping to draw new people who will enjoy the fair," said Brown County Fair Board President Lucy Gluth of Sleepy Eye. "We'll have daily entertainment in the civic center besides the entertainment hall."
Gluth said the fair carnival will continue this year.
New features include Dock Dogs (jumping) competition including New Ulm's Bob Sorenson and his dog Shadow that have won a number of national events.
Dock Dog contests take place on the south end of the fairgrounds from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Finals are expected to start about 2 p.m. Sunday.
Another new feature is a "bungy" trampoline with security belt that will allow participants to jump higher than they ever have before," Gluth said. The trampoline will be set up near the 4-H exhibit building.
Demolition derbies expected to draw full-house crowds again begin in front of the grandstand at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday. Grandstand admission is $12.
MotoCross races begin at 7 p.m. Friday in front of the grandstand. Admission is $10.
An antique tractor pull and Minn E Rods (souped up lawn tractor) pulls begin at noon Sunday in front of the grandstand.
Live music in the entertainment hall will feature Big Wup on Wednesday, Boggie Wonderland on Thursday, Steel Orchid on Friday all from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Second Notion will perform from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
Other entertainment hall music will feature the Concord Singers at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, the Ken & Ken Show at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and the Bockfest Boys from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Other entertainment in the air-conditioned civic center includes The Amazing Hoopsters at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; Mexican Dancers at noon and 2 p.m. on Thursday, an amateur talent contest at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Alfy & The Robotic Puppets roaming the grounds on Friday, Tricia and the Toonies at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. on Friday, and Lisa the Singing Cowgirl at 1 and 3 p.m. on Friday in the entertainment hall.
Izzy and Lois Faerber will host a roller rink reunion at 4:30 p.m. Thursday near the entertainment hall.
As in the past, a wide variety of food and beverages will be available.
For more information, visit www.browncountyfreefair.com/
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).