MANISTIQUE — With the end of July on the horizon, the time has come for the annual Schoolcraft County Fair. This year’s fair is scheduled to take place at the Schoolcraft County Fairgrounds Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27.

According to Fair Manager Deb Gierke, the Schoolcraft County Fair has been running for about 40 years. She noted the event’s continued operation is made possible by another annual activity at the fairgrounds.

“We have a summer camp that goes on all summer, and I have 120 kids a day,” she said.

Gierke serves as the camp’s director, as well.

The camp is able to use the fairgrounds for free; in turn, the money it raises is used to hold the fair and pay for utilities at the fairgrounds throughout the year. This fulfills an agreement the city of Manistique and Schoolcraft County have with the state of Michigan that states that, if a fair is not held at the fairgrounds annually, ownership of the fair building will revert to the state.

Some additions have been made to the Schoolcraft County Fair for 2019.

“Rides-wise this year, we have ziplines coming,” Gierke said.

Other new rides for 2019’s Schoolcraft County Fair include bumper cars and Gotta Go Toilet Racers. Additionally, laser tag will be set up inside the fair building.

Still exhibit registration will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, and Thursday, July 25. Live exhibit registration will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

The fair will open at 4 p.m. Friday. From 4 to 10 p.m., the midway will be open with rides, inflatables, vendors, displays, demonstrations and still and live exhibits. A barnyard petting zoo and pony rides will also be available during this period.

While the midway is open, fairgoers will be able to visit a variety of food vendors.

“We have a new kitchen we just finished last year, too,” Gierke said. Pasties and hot wings will be sold out of the kitchen.

At 7 p.m., the Studio 906 Royalty Pageant will take place. During this event, winners will be crowned in the Miss Schoolcraft (female between the ages of 14 and 19), Junior Miss (female between the ages of 9 and 13), Little Miss (female between the ages of 4 and 8) and Little Prince (male between the ages of 4 and 8) categories.

The fair will close at 10 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, the fair will open at 10 a.m. At noon, the midway will open along with the barnyard petting zoo and pony rides. The midway will close at 10 p.m., and the barnyard petting zoo and pony rides will be available until 9 p.m.

A variety of special events will take place at the fair on Saturday. At 10 a.m., the American Horsemen Challenge Association will hold a trail challenge. At 2 p.m., barnyard yoga with Amy Kraatz will start. At 4 p.m. a frozen T-shirt contest will begin; in this family-friendly contest, participants will vie to be the first to thaw and put on a T-shirt that has been frozen. At 6 p.m., the Northern Tails Pet Resort Dog Show will start.

Registration for the trail challenge will start at 9 a.m., registration for the frozen T-shirt contest will start at 3 p.m. and registration for the dog show will start at 5 p.m.

Live exhibit pick-up will be at 9 p.m. Saturday, and the fair will close at 10 p.m.

Building, grounds and barn clean-up — as well as still exhibit and premium pickup — will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28.

Gierke encouraged people in the area to see summer campers’ exhibits, along with other fair events and activities.

“(We) hope they come support the fair,” she said.

To learn more about this year’s Schoolcraft County Fair, visit www.schoolcraftfairgrounds.com.