COUNTY FAIR DELIVERS LARGE-SCALE FUN
The Chisago County Fair hosts four days of family fun each year , giving the communities a place to gather and find their old and new favorite features . The 2025 event happens July 10- 13 in Rush City , marking its 153rd year .
The fair starts on Thursday with the food vendors and rides opening . Enjoy moto cross that evening where people of all riding abilities are invited to come and try their hand at racing .
The two-night demolition derby on Friday and Saturday is the fair ’ s biggest grandstand event . Participants from the whole upper Midwest come to take a chance at winning more than $ 30,000 in prize money this year .
People of all ages love the Saturday parade . It marches on Main Street with floats , animals , bands and sometimes parade walkers handing out candy .
The fair holds a free kids ’ day on Sunday . The young guests can play games , see clowns , pet baby animals , win prizes and get fair hair , face painting or fun balloons . This is all sponsored by generous donations from many businesses in the county . The talent show draws many fans to see the many talents the county residents have to offer .
The midway supplies plenty of thrills , giggles and smiles plus carries a long record of safety and consistency . Greater Midwest Rides provides a fun set of carnival rides for all ages !
Eight building brims with different displays – from animals and science to plants and jellies . Exhibits demonstrate the fruits of people ’ s labor in sewing , knitting , photography , baking , eggs , making honey or maple syrup , woodworking , quilting , creating jewelry or scrapbooks , producing artwork and much more . In the 4-H building , members from all over the county , after months of hard work , present the county ’ s finest in dairy cows and beef cattle , poultry , pigs , horses , goats , sheep , and other animals and exhibits . They also boast a one-of-a-kind Agriculture Education Center for kids of all ages called Little AgVentures .
Check out the new vendors to the commercial vendor area , including outdoor tents and trailers . Popular foods include pork chops , corn dogs , cotton candy , cheese curds , pork burgers , etc . During all four days of the fair , there are bands on stage and anyone can come sit down and listen to some local bands , while you visit with your neighbors and friends .
The Rush City Historical Society maintains two buildings on the fairgrounds . It is worth a visit to see all the Chisago County historical gems that have been gathered over the years including the log cabin that sits on the corner near the entrance .
BEHIND THE SCENES
The fair board consists of 20-plus volunteers , each with a different area of responsibility . The group works well together and enjoys a fun camaraderie and occasional practical joke . While the Fair Board hasn ’ t conducted deep research on the history of the fair , members have been told the first few in Chisago County were held somewhere around North Branch . The state ’ s Agricultural Society organized various county fairs using borrowed or donated property .
Within a few years of the first one in Chisago County , the organization bought the Rush City land that is the 33-acre fairgrounds of today . Admission is still free , and parking costs $ 3 per day or $ 10 for a weekend pass .
The weather during the fair has included everything from blistering heat to years when people wore jackets all four days . Rain tends to make a mess of Rush City ’ s yellow clay , turning it into a slimy mud that sticks to everything .
The Fair Board plans for a variety of emergency situations – sometimes evacuating kids when necessary to a nearby Baptist church . Over the years , officials have decided four different times to evacuate the fairgrounds . The most recent was in 2019 when a storm dropped over 5 inches of rain in less than an hour ; the fair was closed for the evening but opened on schedule the next day .
The Fair Board takes the unpredictable weather all in stride , but members do admit to having a keen appreciation for perfect weather , when the day has warm sun and the night a cool breeze . Just like those old and new favorite features , the weather is just another aspect of the fair that contributes to the making of great memories , like the many couples who met at the fair then return to celebrate their anniversaries .
Chisago County Fair : 905 W . 4th St ., Rush City , www . chisagocountyfair . org , chisagoctyfair @ gmail . com • 612-251-6388
North Branch / Rush City Community Guide • February 2025 Page 25