Half a century ago, a small agricultural fair began in Elizabethtown. It was held in two tents on the campus of Elizabethtown College. This year, the Elizabethtown Fair marks its 50th anniversary, and the fair promises to be bigger and better than ever, said Sally Nolt, fair secretary. The fair will be held from Monday, Aug. 21, through Saturday, Aug. 26, at 900 E. High St., Elizabethtown.

"We have a lot of new things this year, including racing pigs and goats," she stated. "We're having the Air Methods helicopter do a fly-in on Friday." People will have the chance to see the Air Methods/WellFlight helicopter up-close and enjoy a meet-and-greet with staff members of the aircraft, which provides tools, supplies and ICU-level medical care.

To highlight the fair's long history, a committee is putting together signs that will be displayed throughout the fairgrounds, and an interactive history hunt will also be held during the week.

"We added two contests this year, a baby race and a rebar metalworking contest," Nolt stated. "Last year, we added a woodworking contest, and we'll be doing that again this year as well."

In addition to live entertainment on two main stages, the fair will feature pop-up tents of entertainment each evening, and new food options will also be available. "We have really great food," Nolt remarked. "We have people who come every night just to eat."

Additional highlights of the week will include agricultural education presentations daily, a fair queen contest on Monday, a talent show on Tuesday and Senior Citizens Day on Wednesday. Various agricultural competitions will be held during the week, and a variety of competitive exhibits, ranging from flowers to needlepoint, will be displayed inside Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, adjacent to the fairgrounds. A store selling 50th anniversary fair merchandise will also be set up on the fairgrounds.

Nolt credits the fair's longevity to the support the event receives from the community. "We have between 300 and 400 volunteers who make the fair happen," she said. "We have almost 100 people who help out in the animal petting area alone. We have a lot of people who help at the church. We have senior citizens who man the office during the week. We're very fortunate."

She encourages everyone to come out for the fair, noting, "We are an agricultural fair, but we offer something for everyone from babies to senior citizens."

For more information on the Elizabethtown Fair, including a complete schedule of events, visit https://etownfair.com.