SYRACUSE - The Otoe County Fair is scheduled Aug. 1-3 with the theme Fair Game and the return of a carnival.

Otoe County Ag Society President Mike Rudolph said the fair was moved to a Friday, Saturday and Sunday time frame to accommodate the carnival, which has not been held at the fair since 2014. 

The fair was scheduled to an earlier time frame in 2015 to reduce conflicts with the opening of school and sports practices, but at the expense of the contract with Sam Amusements.

Rudolph said the fair board has consistently looked for a carnival, but it is difficult because there are 20 or 30 county fairs looking to book a carnival at the same time.

He said a lot of people were disappointed when the county lost its carnival, so the fair is delighted to be able to announce the scheduling of Nebraska-based carnival.

The schedule of events include the return of a carnival, as well as livestock shows, pony cycle races, farmers Olympics and 100 year awards.

Danceable country music and the Rocking Plus Rodeo Company is scheduled Saturday, Aug. 2. The fair parade is Sunday afternoon.

Schedule

Friday, Aug. 1

  • 6 p.m. – Pony Cycle Races, specialty food auction
  • 7 p.m. – Farmer Olympics
  • 4-10 p.m. – Carnival at South Park

Saturday, Aug. 2

  • 5:30 p.m. – Little Tugger Tractor Pull
  • 7:30 p.m. – Rocking Plus Rodeo Company
  • 9 p.m. – Mason Michaels country band
  • 4-10 p.m. – Carnival at South Park

Sunday, Aug. 3

  • Noon – antique tractor show
  • 4 p.m. – parade
  • 5:30 p.m. – quilts of valor
  • 6 p.m. – Huff n Puff garden tractor pull
  • 5 p.m.  – Pony Cycle races.
  • 4-10 p.m. – Carnival at South Park

River Country fairs

  • Pawnee County, July 15-21
  • Fremont County, July 27-Aug. 1
  • Otoe Aug. 1-3
  • Cass County, Aug. 6-9
  • Johnson County, Aug. 15-17
  • Nemaha County, Aug. 10-13
  • Nebraska State Fair Aug. 22-Sept. 1.
  • Richardson Free Fair Sept. 10-13