KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – It looks like the Kalamazoo County Fair will be back next year.
The county board has given the Kalamazoo County Parks Department a green light and the promise of another $100,000 subsidy to start planning for next year.
The annual agriculture fair, which has been held in one form or another every summer since 1838, made a comeback last month, with a small midway and a rodeo the feature event added to the annual 4H showcase, and has been deemed a success.
County Parks director Dave Rachowicz says getting an earlier start may make it easier to line up more and better acts next year.
He says they are aiming to hold it between August 1st and 7th next year.
Rachowicz says getting a big carnival midway with adult rides may still be out of reach for the event, which drew around 24,000 people this year.
Board vice chair John Taylor hopes it will one day grow back to that kind of event.
Commissioner John Gisler had a suggestion for the feature event at next year’s fair.
Kalamazoo County has the oldest fair, but neighboring counties have traditionally had more successful events, with Calhoun, St. Joseph and Berrien counties attracting in excess of 100,000 people annually, and the Allegan County Fair hosting well over 300,000 each year, for the past few years.
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