From the 2020 Marinette County Fair in Wausaukee, Wis., 8-year-old Julie Vorkovec of Coleman, Wis., visits her calf in the barn. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

WAUSAUKEE, Wis. — The four-day 2021 Marinette County Fair, set for Aug. 26-29, should be almost back to normal after a 2020 version that had to adjust to the pandemic.

This includes the return of the horse pull, canceled last year because the horses could not stay in training due to lack of competitions available, said Jessica Markiewicz, Marinette County Fair Board treasurer.

The regular carnival will be present, too, replacing a “hybrid” setup that had a number of operations combining to provide rides and games in 2020.

Absent this year will be a masks requirement, though numerous sanitation stations will be available throughout the fairgrounds.

Featured grandstand events include the mini- and modified tractor pull Thursday, Aug. 26; the farm tractor pull Friday, Aug. 27; the demolition derby in the afternoon and the supermodified truck and tractor pull that evening, Saturday, Aug. 28; and the horse pull Sunday morning, Aug. 29.

A change this year is no extra charge to attend the Thursday and Sunday grandstand competitions, Markiewicz said. Friday and Saturday events will be $8 or $5 for ages 6 to 12; younger than 6 are admitted free.

Cost to enter the fairgrounds is $5 each day, $2 on Sunday, Aug. 29. A weekend pass is $15, or $12 if purchased in advance. Parking is $1.

Exhibition buildings open at 9 a.m. each day of the fair.

For Thursday, Aug. 26, carnival rides begin operating at 4 p.m., with $20 carnival wristbands valid for unlimited rides from 4 to 10 p.m.

The Miller & Mike Comedy Show, featuring two former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns who also juggle, will perform at 5:30, 7 and 8 p.m.

The 4-H Royalty coronation will be 5:30 p.m.

The Lena Mini and Modified Tractor Pullers Association competition is set for 7 p.m. in the grandstand arena.

A DJ will play from 7 to 10 p.m. in the pavilion.

Friday, Aug. 27, will as usual highlight 4-H animal judging, opening with rabbits, swine and beef starting at 8:30 a.m.

Poultry judging — chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and more — is at noon. Sheep go into the arena at 1 p.m.

All of this judging culminates at 7 p.m. with the youth livestock auction, when the young exhibitors hopefully will be rewarded for their weeks or months of work with their animals.

The horse pleasure show starts at 9:30 a.m.

The carnival Aug. 27 begins operating at 2 p.m. Wristbands again pay for all rides from 4 to 10 p.m.

Miller & Mike will perform at 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Magician Jared Sherlock takes the stage at 4 and 6 p.m.

The grandstand event Aug. 27 is the farm tractor pull, set to get in gear at 7 p.m.

The rock band Sunny & the Heat will play from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Saturday, Aug. 28, opens with dairy judging — always popular in the Dairy State — at 8:30 a.m.

The horse speed show, with events such as runs through poles and barrels, takes place at 12:30 p.m.

Goats — a growing category at fairs — go into the show ring at 1 p.m.

Carnival rides start at noon.

Miller & Mike will perform at noon, 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., with magician Jared Sherlock at 1 and 4 p.m.

Aug. 28 features two grandstand events. Competitors in the demolition derby begin trying to destroy each other at 1 p.m. The supermodified truck and tractor pull competes at 7 p.m.

The day closes out with the retro rock band Schizophonic playing from 8 p.m. to midnight.

As usual, the final day of the fair Sunday, Aug. 29, will have Horse Fun Day from 8 a.m. to noon.

The horse pull returns this year at 10:30 a.m. in the grandstand.

Carnival rides open at noon, with a wrist band allowing unlimited rides through 4 p.m.

Band Jess Hav’n Phun will play music from the ’50s and ’60s from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Miller & Mike will perform at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

The fair raffle drawings will be at 2 p.m.

Auction animals will be released at 2 p.m., dairy exhibits at 4. Trophies and awards will be given out at 3 p.m. in the show barn.

Rides close at 4 p.m. and all exhibits will be released at 5 p.m.