HARTINGTON – The time has arrived yet again for the Cedar County Fair.
The 2024 edition of the annual summertime celebration will be held Wednesday- Sunday, July 17-21, and feature the three-day CedarStock Music Fest once again, which will see five national musical acts perform at the fair’s grandstand.
“We always try to get new, up-and-coming bands that are just starting out,” said Greg Heine, who is in his 12th year as the fair board president. “Most of these bands – this is the first or second year really having songs on the charts.”
The fair’s evening concert series once again will feature country music singers as headlining acts, such as Drew Baldridge and Dillon Carmichael on Friday, Justin Moore on Saturday and Chayce Beckham and Chase Matthew on Sunday.
“We’re excited,” Heine said. “We’ve got a good mix of country and new artists.”
The fair also will feature three regional bands for evening entertainment as well – Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Friday, Jetley Park on Saturday and Casey Rossiter & the 40/20 on Sunday.
“We’ve got five national acts and then we’ve got three local acts,” Heine said. “It’s a total of eight bands in three days. I don’t think any other county fair in Nebraska is doing anything like that. We’re unique in that sense. We do really well with the concerts, providing great entertainment.”
Other annual evening events that will entertain fair attendees are the Cedar County Fair Talent Contest on Wednesday inside the Open Class Building and the popular Cedar County Fair PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Rodeo on Thursday at the rodeo arena.
“Our rodeo always does really well,” Heine said.
In addition, the fair will feature a new attraction from Arizona called the Freckle Farms Petting Zoo & Pony Rides, which will be located at the midway Friday-Sunday in the afternoon and evening.
Heine noted fair attendees also should check out the various commercial and food vendors.
“We’re going to be maxed out on commercial vendors and maxed out on food vendors this year,” Heine said. “We’ll have a wide variety of food and a wide variety of just different things up here to come up and see for free.”
He noted there should be activities for everyone who attends the fair this year.
“You won’t be bored here, that’s for sure,” Heine said.
