2021 Hillsborough County Fair Arrives, New Entertainment

DOVER, FL — The 2021 Hillsborough County Fair opens Thursday in Dover with rides and family-fun entertainment.

This year's theme, "From Wagon Wheels to Ferris Wheels," has new entertainment acts, new kiddie rides, an expanded carnival and so much more. Some of the live events include a youth livestock show, beauty pageants, and a beef cook-off. Details of the 11-day fair are below:

Entertainment Included With Admission:

• New Acts. Family Thrill Circus returns with all new acts including a heart-pounding high and low wire thrill show across thinly-stretched steel cables, an exhilarating unicycle performance and a comedy throughout taking audience emotions from fears to cheers.
• New. Disc-Connected K-9 Show, choreographed to music and comprised of the best professional Frisbee-catching dogs on the planet.
• New. Cowboy Camp, in the Hometown Hillsborough Area, featuring an interactive historic display depicting traditional cowboy life, including a chuckwagon and live cowboy storytelling.
• Firefighter show, fun, interactive educational show with Hillsborough County firefighters.
• Mini bike racing on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m, in the special events arena.

Special Arena Events for Rodeo and Motorsport Enthusiasts (additional fee required):

• Bulls, Broncos and Barrel Racing Rodeo, sponsored by Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, for budding cowboys held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25 at 7:00 p.m.
• Demolition Derby, for motor enthusiasts who enjoy watching drivers of cars, mini-vans and station wagons deliberately ram into each other, makes its return to the Fair on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 3:00 p.m.
• Truck and Tractor Pull, presented by John Deere Everglades, on Friday, October 1 and Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m.

The Fair will offer some “Gate Specials” for special people and groups:

• New. Heroes Day will be presented by the McDonald’s Casper Company on Sunday September 26 offering free admission for all active military, veterans, police, fire, emergency personnel and hospital workers, along with a formal celebration presented in their honor at 1:00 p.m. in the Fair’s 1,800-seat arena.
• New. Hillsborough County Employee Appreciation Day entitles all county employees to be treated to free admission on Saturday, Sept. 25, sponsored by the Florida West Coast Credit Union.
• New. Carload Night offers discounted admission for families, maximum of eight, arriving in cars on Friday night, Sept. 24 and Friday night, Oct. 1.

If you enjoy competition, here’s what’s going on in the Fairgrounds Entertainment Pavilion and Exhibition Building:

• Beef Cook-Off presented by the Hillsborough County CattleWomen’s Association on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. featuring teams of two and a pound of their favorite beef cut with all the trimmings.
• Children’s Pageant on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1:00 p.m.
• Baby Pageant on Sunday, Oct 3 at 1:00 p.m.
• Hillsborough Harvest Idol Contest: local talent will compete for cash prizes and their claim to the title Harvest Idol, sponsored by Music Showcase.

WHERE:

• 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover

Adult General Admission: $10, Students K – 12th Grade: $7Seniors (age 65 plus): $5

Children under 5: free admission

Parking: Free

Ticket Specials

• ”Carload Days:” $30 dollar admission for up to 8 people on Friday, Sept. 24 and Friday, Oct. 1 only
• 4 for $40 Special admission for 4 people includes 2 ride armbands
• Arena Events: $10, includes fair gate admission
• Ride Armband: $25 each

For more information, visit: hillsboroughcountyfair.com and follow the Fair on Facebook and Instagram.