Workers build a new concrete base recently for the Nutrien Plaza Stage at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima.
David Trinko | The Lima News
LIMA — People really wanting to get their money’s worth out of the Allen County Fair should check out the variety of entertainment available at the newly renovated Nutrien Plaza Stage.
“Once you pay your $8 to get into the fair, there’s a lot of great entertainment available for free,” said Troy Elwer, manager of the Allen County Fair. “There’s seating and shade nearby the Grandstand Plaza Stage, where people can really enjoy that.”
The acts themselves will appreciate the new stage, sponsored by Nutrien and located just outside the grandstands near the fair’s administrative office. One of the improvements at this year’s fair was a poured concrete stage, complete with ramp to help the acts get their equipment on and off the stage easily.
The Comedy Farm Magic Review will have several shows per day Friday through Monday. This family fun show includes farm-themed magic, comedy, farm safety tips and agricultural information. It includes a fully animatronic chicken that can interact with the audience and performer on stage.
Magic Man TJ Hill will take over the stage for the second half of fair week with his mixture of comedy and magic for several shows a day Tuesday through Saturday. Hill, voted the Magician of the Year by the International Brotherhood of Magicians in 2016, brings music, audience participation, comedy and gravity-defying magic together for a memorable show. You’ll even see “borrowed objects appear in the most impossible of places,” according to Hill’s website.
There will also be live music on the stage. The crowd can get involved with karaoke on the stage Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights.
Local musicians Darin Rowe and Matthew Hager will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday. The Kevin McCoy Band, a country-rock group, will entertain the crowd at 8 p.m. next Friday. Fleetwood 2 the Max, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, will perform at 8 p.m. next Saturday.
Other events scheduled on the stage are the fair opening ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday and an auction of the Bear Hollow Woodcarvers’ chainsaw art at 2:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of the fair.
NUTRIEN PLAZA STAGE SCHEDULE
172nd Allen County Fair Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: 4 p.m. Friday
The Comedy Farm Magic Review: 6 and 9 p.m. Friday; 12, 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Karaoke: 9 p.m. Sunday; 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
Kiddie Tractor Pull: 3-5 p.m. Monday
Magic Man TJ Hill: 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Tuesday; 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 12 and 6 p.m. Thursday; 12, 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday
Rowe & Hager: 8 p.m. Thursday
Kevin McCoy Band: 8 p.m. Friday
Wood Carvings Auction: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Fleetwood 2 The Max: 8 p.m. Saturday
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-4067 or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
