In India, one of the most significant festivals is Diwali, which falls between October and November. It’s a five-day celebration that includes good food, fireworks, colored sand, and special candles and lamps.

In honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, people make special prayers on the first day to obtain blessings for welfare, success, and well-being. People welcome the goddess into their homes by decorating entrances with colorful lanterns and traditional designs. In addition, many people treat themselves to fine jewellery, praying for good fortune. Those who cannot afford so much, seek out cheaper items such as clothes or household goods.

The second day of the festival is called Kali Chaudas. For some, the day provides an opportunity to drive away misfortune from homes and businesses. They decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called Rangoli on the floor using colored powder or sand.

The third day is when the biggest celebrations occur, which begin early in the morning with a visit to a temple to seek the blessing of the goddess. As the sun sets, festival observers light up their homes with small lamps and enjoy delicious traditional foods with their loved ones.

The festival’s fourth day is celebrated in many different ways. Friends and relatives visit with gifts, sweets and best wishes for the season.

And the final day of the festival is called Bhai Dooj. It honors the close bond between brothers and sisters and is observed with traditional ceremonies and more delicious foods.

For children in India, Diwali is similar to Christmas. They get an entire week off from school and are treated to gifts, new clothes, amazing food, and, in the past at least, a large number of fireworks. It is no wonder that the festival ranks high among the country’s favorite celebrations.

Ramadan

Ramadan is one of the most important festivals for Muslims. The name of the festival comes from the Arabic month in which it is celebrated. Ramadan is celebrated in countries all over the world, especially in Africa and the Middle East. The time for celebrating Ramadan varies each year. People celebrate it in the ninth month of the Arabic lunar calendar. During Ramadan, people must not eat during the day: from when the sun comes up to when the sun goes down, people celebrating Ramadan will not eat or smoke. When the sun has gone down, however, the celebration begins. People often stay up all night eating, singing and dancing.

Easter

In late spring, many people around the world celebrate Easter. The festival is a celebration of spring and it is also a religious holiday. It is the time for Easter bunnies and egg hunts, and of course for eating lots of delicious foods. Easter is celebrated in late March or early April but the exact dates are different from year to year. People celebrate Easter in different ways: in some countries, the Easter Bunny-a big rabbit-will visit people and children will go on egg hunts, looking for eggs and candy that have been hidden by their parents. In other countries, Easter is a time for children to dress up like witches and go from door to door asking for candy---much like Halloween in the US. The Easter Bunny and the Easter Egg are popular symbols of the festival.

116th Annual Florence County Fair

This Florence County Fair marks the 116th annual anniversary celebration of our family-friendly tradition. While many items and activities have changed throughout the years, one very important item has not changed. The Florence County Fair is a celebration of varied talents of our Florence County residents as well as serving as a showcase of our County’s agricultural and natural resources.

New Contests and Activities Added

We have added multiple new contests and activities, such as the Secret Life of My Pets Tea Party, special exhibit contests, a Polka mass and music by Jerry Voelker and the Jolly Gents.

Low Admission Prices

Adults (ages 12 & older)     $10.00 per person

Kids (ages 11 & under)     Free

Seniors (ages 65 & older)   $5.00 per person

Exhibitors        $5.00 per person

Parking

No charge for parking at the Florence County Fair Park; however, space is limited. Parking will be restricted on County N near the two entry gates for vehicles entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

Additional Costs to Participate

Once you are at the fair, most of the entertainment and activities are free to watch and participate in. Out of all those activities, there are some which require an additional entry fee for you to participate in-the Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, the Mud Bog, and the ATV/UTV games.

All of our music, old-fashioned kids games, Magic Show and Air-Powered Rocket Workshop, horse pull, Grandma’s Garden, plus many more activities are all free to attend and participate in.

Our goal is to keep our 116th Annual County tradition a family-friendly event affordable for everyone who is attending. We hope to see you there!

Contact Us

If you have questions regarding the fair, please let us know.

Call the Fair Office at 906-282-9153.

E-mail us at florencecountyfair@hotmail.com.