Kosciusko County Fair opens 109th year with parade, new alcohol sales policy

KOSCIOUSKO COUNTY, Ind, -- The 109th annual Kosciusko County Fair officially kicked off Sunday, welcoming visitors with a patriotic parade and the start of a week packed with traditional 4-H events, grandstand entertainment and a new policy allowing alcohol sales on the fairgrounds.

This year's fair carries the theme "Stars and Stripes and Carnival Nights," with opening day festivities featuring firefighters, fair royalty, monster trucks and other community groups driving through Warsaw in a parade decorated in red, white and blue.

A new addition this year is the sale of beer and wine on the fairgrounds, making the Kosciusko County Fair the first in the region to allow alcohol sales. Organizers said beer and wine will be available in the evenings from designated coolers rather than vendor booths.

Despite the changes, longtime fair traditions remain the focus of the week.

Livestock exhibits, animal shows and other 4-H events are underway as members showcase projects they've spent months preparing.

"It's like, once in a year type thing," 4-H member Robbie Messmore said. "It's so much fun and if I didn't go, I don't know what I would do all summer and look up to doing."

The Kosciusko County Fair runs through July 18, with nightly grandstand events including demolition derbies, tractor pulls and other family entertainment.