HANCOCK — What is happening at the Houghton County Fairgrounds from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30?

The grounds will be divided into a “north” section and a “south” section, and the street within the Driving Park will be closed to through traffic.

Thursday, Aug. 27 to Sunday, Aug. 30, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Skerbeck Food Concessions will be holding a “Drive Thru Fair Food” event on the south end of the Houghton County Fairgrounds. Customers stay in their cars, while “car hops” hand out a menu and take your order. The traffic flow will be entering the grounds from the Ingot St. entrance, circling around the back of the Houghton County Ice Arena, and “car hops” will deliver the order to cars along the west wall of the fair’s exhibit building. Cars will then exit onto Birch Street from the “main entrance” to the grounds. Customers will not leave their vehicles. The Ice Arena and Exhibit building will be closed. This is a drive thru event only. Skerbeck employees will be health screened every morning and will be wearing masks and gloves. Please wear a mask when placing your order, paying, and picking up your order. This is a fund raiser for the Houghton County Fair Association.

On Friday, Aug. 28, at the north gate (North on Birch Street to Henderson Drive) there will be a ticket booth. Spectators can walk in to view the Market Hog Show at 9 a.m., the Market Beef Show at 11 a.m. and the Market Lamb Show at 2 p.m. This is all that will be taking place. People could also walk through the barns if they want to look at the animals, with current Covid occupancy rates in a building at one time. Sheep will be in the horse barn, beef steers in the livestock barn, and swine in the pavilion behind the livestock barn. There will be a $5 admission fee for those 16 and over, or $10 per family with children under 16 years of age, to help to offset the cost of putting on the shows. Please pay with cash or a check at the ticket booth. The gate will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

On Saturday, August 29th, the buildings will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Junior Market Livestock Auction will take place at 2 p.m. Bidders can sign up for a number approximately one hour prior to the auction in the livestock barn. There will be six beef steers, nine hogs, and 16 lambs in the auction. The auction ring will be set up outside, so bidders will be able to remain outdoors and safe distance. Masks are highly suggested outdoors and required in the buildings. There will also be hand washing and sanitizing stations available.

Staff will be available to help the buyers make arrangements for their animals to go to a USDA inspected facility and explain processing options. Animals will be leaving the grounds at 5 p.m. on Saturday and at that time, the buildings will be closed for cleaning and the events on the north end of the fairgrounds will conclude for the weekend.

The Houghton County Fair Board would like to thank the sponsors that have contributed to the trophies, plaques, and auction this year.