This 2025 Whitley County Fair will once again have a little something for everyone with returning favorites, such as the demolition derby, the mud bog, and inflatables, in addition to the return of the hot air balloon rides for second consecutive year and the addition of a planned fireworks show to conclude the fair this year.
“On behalf of the Whitley County Fair Board, we are delighted to extend an invitation to everyone to attend next week’s festivities, which promise a wide range of activities and entertainment. We are thrilled to once again welcome the community to this outstanding event. We look forward to greeting everyone and enjoying a memorable experience with friends, family and neighbors,” said Whitley County Fair Board President Michelle Calton.
The Whitley County Fair pageants will kick things off on Saturday (July 12) starting at 10:30 a.m. at Williamsburg Independent School.
The 2025 Whitley County Fair itself will take place Wednesday (July 16) – Saturday (July 19) at the Whitley County Fair Grounds, which is located at 844 Savoy Clearcreek Road.
This year the fair will once again feature a large array of inflatables. There will be eight waterslides and three bounce houses, in addition to two obstacle courses.
The fair will also feature, The Monster, which is the tallest water slide in Kentucky.
For the second straight year, there will be hot air balloon rides at the Whitley County Fair, which will take place from 6 – 9 p.m. on Saturday (July 19). July 19 will be the only day that hot air balloon rides are offered. The cost will be $5 per person.
At dusk on Saturday (July 19), there will be fireworks for the first time at the fair.
Demolition Derby
Always a fan favorite, the Whitley County Fair Demolition Derby will take place on Thursday (July 18) starting at 7 p.m. For those that don’t know, a demolition derby is where drivers face off in a pit ramming one another’s junked vehicles until only one vehicle can move.
Drivers will typically try to ram the other vehicles with the rear of their own vehicle to protect the engine. Each contestant must make a legal hit at least once a minute. No sandbagging allowed.
Hitting the driver’s side door is grounds for disqualification. If the hood comes open, then the vehicle is automatically disqualified.
This year’s demolition derby will feature three categories: front wheel drive class, big car class, and minivan/SUV class.
The vehicles in the front wheel drive class must be a front-wheel drive car, which is either a four or six-cylinder. No eight-cylinder vehicles are allowed in this class.
The vehicles in the big car class are a rear-wheel drive, big car.
The vehicles in the minivan/SUV class are a front-wheel drive van or front-wheel drive SUV. No rear-wheel or all-wheel drives will be accepted in this class.
Sorry teenage drivers, but each driver must be at least 21 years of age, fill out an entry form and sign a waiver.
Mud bog
Following a one-year hiatus, ATVs and side-by-sides are back for this year’s mud bog, which will take place on Saturday (July 19) from 2-7 p.m.
A mud bog is a timed race with vehicles racing through a mud-filled pit. If no vehicles make it all the way through the mud-filled pit, then the person, whose vehicle travels the furthest in the pit wins.
Vehicles have 60 seconds to make it through the pit, and if they haven’t made through during that time span, then they will be stopped, and their distance will be marked from the tip of their front bumper.
Vehicles will have two runs with the average of the two runs determining the final time.
This year’s mud bog will feature a youth ATV (ages 10 and under) class, and an ATV 500cc and under class.
There will be a youth (ages 10 and under) side-by-side class, and a side-by-side 900cc and under class. There will also be an ATV open class.
This year’s event will have four vehicle classes, including the street class category.
The street class category is for vehicles that are legal to drive on the streets, and have Department of Transportation regulated tires, up to date tags and insurance.
There is also a category for vehicles with Department of Transportation regulated tires that are not over 33 inches in diameter. Vehicles that don’t qualify for the street class will more than likely be put into this class.
The third category is for vehicles with tires that are 34-38 inches in diameter.
The final category is the outlaw class.
As the rules state, “1. Run what you brung. 2. Hope the crazy was enough.”
For complete rules in all these contests, see the Whitley County Fair’s Facebook page.
Fair admission
The fair will start on Wednesday (July 16) with free admission that night.
The fair will take place from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. on July 16-18, and from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. on July 19.
You can purchase a three-day event pass (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) for $25 for ages 12 and up. The cost of a three-day event pass is $10 for children ages 6-11.
The passes are valid for all events on the fairgrounds during the fair.
The daily rate to enter the fair is $10 for people ages 12 and over, and $5 for children ages 6-11. Children ages five and under are admitted for free.
