The Marquette County Fairgrounds, shown here in 2019, will be busy once again later this week. The fair starts on Thursday afternoon and concludes Saturday evening. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — People can pet goats, watch a miniature horse show, view 4-H exhibits and eat Croatian chicken — and many other activities — in one place as the Marquette County Fair comes to the area Thursday through Saturday.

The Marquette County Fairgrounds are located at 715 M-553 in Sands Township. Gates open at 10 a.m. all three days, with the carnival opening at 1 p.m. The fair will close at 10 every night.

Gate admissions are $6 for individuals ages 12 and up, $3 for children ages 5 to 11, and free for youngsters ages 4 and under. For seniors ages 60 and over on Thursday’s Military Appreciation & Senior Day, tickets are $3 each. Wheelchairs will be available.

Weekly admission wristbands, which are separate from wristbands for midway rides, cost $15 for adults for all three days and $6 for children, also for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Family Fun Tyme Amusements will provide the carnival action, with the following prices: tickets, $1.50; wristbands, $25; and a family pack of 20 tickets, $30.

“The Marquette County Fair Board has been working tirelessly to make this another amazing fair,” said Liana Pepin, Marquette County 4-H coordinator and Michigan State University Extension educator, in an email. “Our youth have also been busy feeding, caring for, and working with their animals daily to prepare for this weekend. So much goes into livestock projects, and it is not all about what happens in the show ring, but it is an important part of the learning process.”

Pepin said there will be a lot of fun happening in and around the Youth Building too, with 4-H selling Jilbert’s ice cream and providing free craft and science activities for kids daily.

“Come check out the new remodel, too,” Pepin said. “The fair board outdid themselves with this big project and we are so grateful.”

Marquette County Fair Board President Walt Maki said, “It was a pole barn, so the inside looked like the inside of a pole barn.”

The updates, he noted, include new insulation and lighting.

“It doesn’t look like a barn anymore,” he said. “Now it looks like a nice room.”

Live entertainment includes: Adam Carpenter, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday; North Country Ethan Bott, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday; Brian Matthews, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday; Adam Carpenter & The Upper Hand, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday; Jim & Ray, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday; and Lonnie Hafner, Sole Survivor, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Ongoing and new entertainment includes the Whispering Pines Zoo; bingo; the beer tent; Bricktown LEGO displays; Those Funny Little People Enterprises Inc.; Cirque Amongus; Tanzanite African Acrobats; firefighter races; historical and traditional demonstrations; and Dialed Action BMX bikes.

The entertainment, Maki said, is free.

Maki pointed out that a special inclusive carnival for special needs individuals and their families will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday. The rides will be operated more slowly, he said, and there will be no music or flashing lights.

Of course, animals are a big part of county fairs, and the Marquette County Fair is no exception. Events include poultry and rabbit showmanship, pony pulls, horse show jumping and others.

For more information, visit www.marquettecountyfair.org or call 906-249-4111.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.