THE 119TH-ANNUAL Florence County Fair, which open Friday, will again have its popular Horse Pull preceded by the Pony Pull on the fair’s final day Sunday. (Submitted photo)

FLORENCE, Wis. — The 119th-annual Florence County Fair opens Friday with a return of some fair favorites and some new attractions as well.

The Mud Bog on Saturday and the horse pull competitions Sunday continue to be the most popular fair events, said Jessica Klumpp, fair manager. Klumpp has been involved with the fair for 30 years, and has been manager since 2003.

The fair will open at 5 p.m. Friday. Karaoke with Vicky is set for 4 to 7 p.m. and the U.P. Garden Tractor competition, featuring the U.P. Garden Tractor Pullers, starts at 5 p.m. The evening closes with music by local rock band Kyndrid.

The seventh-annual Mud Bog will start at noon Saturday, with registration from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Klumpp said they have several things planned in and around the area. Some renovation work also has been done at the bog site.

“Grow Maxx is bringing in some of their RC (remote control) cars and they will have a competition in the arena. That’s new for us this year as well,” she said.

In addition to the Mud Bog, Saturday will feature the craft and vendor fair at the soccer field from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., kids games at 2 p.m., a karaoke contest from 4 to 7 p.m. and music by the local variety rock and country band Next Myle from 7 to 11 p.m.

Another new event is an arm wrestling competition Sunday.

“There’s a group that does it. There are kids’ contests, and men’s and women’s amateurs, then the actual Wisconsin Arm Wrestlers compete,” she said.

Weigh-in starts at 11 a.m., with wrestling beginning at noon. Weight classes include kids ages 2-17; women’s open, 70 kg, 70-plus kg; men’s amateur and open, 70 kg, 78 kg, 86 kg, 95 kg, 105 kg, 105-plus kg. There is an additional charge to compete in the arm wrestling competition.

The pony pull starts at 1 p.m. Sunday and the horse pull at 3 p.m. Lovin’ Country will play at 11 a.m. and after the pony pull until the horse pull begins.

Also planned Sunday is the classic car and motorcycle show, with registration from 9 a.m. to noon. Awards will be presented at 2 p.m. Bingo will be played starting at 11:30 a.m.

The 2022 fair saw a slight drop in attendance because of rain on Saturday and Sunday.

“Last year we started a pony pull prior to the draft horse pull and it was well attended, even though it rained,” she said. “We’re hoping now that people know what it is, they’ll come early for that.”

Klumpp said people have mentioned missing a few fair favorites from the past, such as the coin scramble for kids and the cricket-spitting contest.

“When COVID hit in 2020, we didn’t have a fair and we lost a lot of volunteers in coming back from that. It’s really why those items are missing. We’re always looking for volunteers,” she said.

“Some of those things are planned out, like, ‘This is who you need to contact,’ but we don’t have the manpower to physically make them happen. But if someone wanted to step in and take that information and make those things happen, they could. And we’re happy to help with guidance, but you can’t be in two places at once at the fair.”

They are starting to bring back a few of the features that had disappeared, such as a magician and other shows. There will also be Mr. D’s Bounce Houses and an air-powered rocket workshops.

One thing everyone wants at the fair is a carnival.

“It’s just logistics,” Klumpp said. “There are only so many carnivals and there’s a lot more fairs.”

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2023 Florence County Fair schedule

TODAY

Exhibits will be judged during this day beginning at 9 a.m., but the fairgrounds will not be open. Results can be viewed when the fair opens at 5 p.m. Friday.

FRIDAY

— 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Vickie’s Karaoke

— 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Mr. D’s Bounce Houses open

— 5 p.m.: Exhibit displays open to the public

— 5 p.m.: Flag raising

— 5 p.m.: Garden tractor pull featuring U.P. Garden Tractor Pullers

— 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Music by Kyndrid

SATURDAY

— Grow Max Racing: Times to be determined

— 7 to 10:30 a.m.: Mud Bog registration

— 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Mr. D’s Bounce Houses

— 11 a.m.: Comedy magic show

— 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Craft and Vendor Fair

— 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Exhibit building open to the public

— Noon: Mud Bog

— 1 p.m.: Air-powered rocket workshop

— 2 p.m.: Kids activities/games

— 3 p.m.: Comedy magic show

— 4 to 7 p.m.: Vickie’s Karaoke contest

— 5 p.m.: Strolling Magic

— 6 p.m.: Air-powered rocket workshop

— 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Music by Next Myle

SUNDAY

— 9 a.m. to noon: Classic car and motorcycle show registration

— 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Music by Lovin’ Country; band also will play between pony and horse pulls

— 11 a.m.: WI Arm Wrestling Club Competition weigh-in

— 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mr. D’s Bounce Houses

— 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Exhibit building open to the public

— 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Strolling Magic

— 11:30 a.m.: Bingo

— Noon: WI Arm Wrestling Club Competition begins

— 1 p.m.: Pony Pull

— 2 p.m.: Comedy magic show

— 2 p.m.: Classic car and motorcycle show awards

— 3 p.m.: Draft Horse Pull

— 4 p.m.: Flag lowering

— 4 p.m.: Exhibit release