Putnam County Fair returning with rides, food, ag shows | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Cheryl and Steve Viers smile in between setting up the Putnam County Property Appraiser’s Office booth Monday for this year’s fair.
Christina Hockridge cleans the Polar Slush booth at the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Monday to prepare for the first day of the fair Friday.
The Windsurfer rests at the fairgrounds Monday before any of the rides are assemble for the Putnam County Fair that starts Friday.
A list of events at the Putnam County Fair
Positively Putnam FL

EAST PALATKA – Against a backdrop of pink, purple and green rides soon to be set up, people bustled around the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Monday getting ready for the Putnam County Fair.

The gates open 5 p.m. Friday for carnival food enthusiasts, thrillseekers and animal-lovers alike, and fairgoers have through March 26 to check it out.

“I’m very excited about the fair,” said Samantha Fairlie, the Putnam County Fair Manager, as she prepared Monday for this weekend’s festivities. “It’s going to be great.”

People can purchase tickets online ahead of time, and fair organizers are offering an advanced deal before Friday where general admission and one unlimited ride armband is $22. Once the fair begins, general admission is $6 and armband prices vary depending on the day.

A nine-day pass for all the fair days is also available before Friday for $40.

There will be plenty for people to do this year because Fairlie said the Sea Lion Splash show is set to come back this year, an exotic petting zoo is on the books this year, as is Comedy Hypnotist Chris Mabery.

No exotic animals were prancing around the fairgrounds Monday afternoon, but local organizations had already started setting up their booths, such as the Putnam County Supervisor of Elections office and the County Property Appraiser’s office.

The full schedule is available online but the Miss Putnam County beauty pageant will be held at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and agriculture shows include a youth goat show at 1 p.m. Saturday and a market swine show at 6 p.m. March 22.

There will be even more photo opportunities this year, complete with a photo contest at the end of the fair, the manager said.

Anyone who attends this year’s fair can post their photo with #Putfair2022 on social media platforms, and organizers will choose the best photo at the end. Fairlie said the winner will receive an annual pass to next year’s fair.

“This year, all of Florida’s fairs and events have done just as well, if not better than last year,” she added. “So, we’re looking forward to big crowds.”