Championship Derby comes to Platte County Fair

A championship demolition derby is coming to the Platte County Fair this year. The fair, which opens tonight, draws about 20,000 people each year from about a 60 mile radius.

This year, the 153rd annual event will feature the Central States Championship Demolition Derby on Friday night, which is expected to bring out drivers from across the Midwest. The event is one of two demolition derbies planned for this year’s fair. The first is tonight. Thrills on wheels at the fair will also include a Thursday night Mud-A-Thon and a Saturday night Truck and Tractor Pull.

This year’s fair opens today at 4 p.m. at the Platte County Fairgrounds in Tracy. An opening ceremony will start at 6:55 p.m. followed by a demolition derby at 7 p.m. and a Queen Contest at 7:30 p.m.

The fair, which is completely run by volunteers, claims the title of the Oldest Continuously Operating Fair West of the Mississippi River. The first Platte County fair thrilled locals in 1858. A portion of the current fairgrounds was purchased as early as 1859. An extensive history of the fair on the organization’s website includes the landing of an airplane on the fairgrounds to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event in 1913, a 1901 speech by former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan and a nine-day fair run in 1963 to celebrate the 100th annual fair.

This year’s fair features events on four days, starting Wednesday, July 20 and running through Saturday night, July 23.

The floral hall exhibits will feature the local works of Platte County crafters in several categories including glass art, knitting, woodworking and photography. The Mac Myers Building will feature hundreds of displays made by area 4-H participants.

Children 12 and under are admitted free to the fair. Ticket prices are for adults are $10 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and $15 on Saturday. Ticket prices include the cost of the events at the grandstand track. A carnival is available every night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Live music is featured every night in the Platte Purchase building and the Dirty Shame Saloon.

Highlights of scheduled events

▪ Wednesday, July 20

4 p.m. 4H exhibits open in Mack Myers Building

5 p.m. Floral Hall exhibits open

7 p.m. Demolition Derby at the Grandstand track

7:30 p.m. Queen Contest at the Pavilion

▪ Thursday July 21

4 p.m. 4H exhibits open in Mack Myers Building

5 p.m. Floral Hall exhibits open

5 p.m. Senior Citizens Activities in the Platte Purchase Building

6 p.m. Missouri Mule and Donkey Circuit Show – Shackelford Arena

7 p.m. Mud-A-Thon at the Grandstand Track

7:30 p.m. Square Dancing at the Platte Purchase building

▪ Friday, July 22

4 p.m. 4H exhibits open in Mack Myers Building

5 p.m. Floral Hall exhibits open

6 p.m. Carnival opens

7 p.m. Central States Sumer Championship Demolition Derby

▪ Saturday, July 23

9 a.m. Horse Show at Shackelford Arena

10 a.m. Floral Hall exhibits open

11 a.m. Horseshoe Pitching contest

1 p.m. Youth talent show at the Platte Purchase Building

1 p.m. Carnival opens

7 p.m. Lucas Oil Truck and Tractor Pull at the Grandstand Track

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Championship Derby comes to Platte County Fair."