Crowds attend opening night at fair

Celebrating its 126th year, the Shawano County Fair opened for business Wednesday evening amid a steady stream of visitors and beautiful weather.

Norm Habeck took his traditional role of emcee at the fair’s opening ceremony.

“I’ve been coming to the fair for some 80 years,” Habeck said.

One thing that has improved over the years, he said, are the number of American flags he sees flying.

“I don’t remember ever seeing this display of flags,” he said, before launching into a spoken rendition of George M. Cohan’s “Grand Old Flag.”

A color guard made up of members of various area veterans posts and auxiliaries displayed the colors for the ceremony.

“It’s an honor to have them here opening it up,” said John Stezenski, a member of he county board and the Shawano County Agricultural Society that oversees the fairgrounds.

Andrea Strebel sang the National Anthem and Fairest of the Fair Suzzie Long also welcomed visitors with a few words.

Fair manager and Ag Society president Dale Hodkiewicz said he hoped the crowds would have as much fun as fair personnel have putting the fair together.

“There are a lot of activities going on here all week long,” Hodkiewicz said. “We have a wonderful time putting this fair on.”

Hodkiewicz said after the ceremony that opening day was spared the rain that moved through the area overnight Tuesday.

“Better yesterday than today,” he said, though parking was a little messier than planned due to the puddles and mud the rain left behind in some places.

“It should be better tomorrow,” Hodkiewicz said.

There were also some kinks in the new parking system needing to be worked out, but overall there is more available and accessible parking this year, he said.

Crowds attend opening night at fair

Celebrating its 126th year, the Shawano County Fair opened for business Wednesday evening amid a steady stream of visitors and beautiful weather.

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