T-L Photos/JOSIE BURKHART Belmont County Fair Board Secretary Rebecca Selmon says the 175th anniversary shows the community’s dedication and commitment to agriculture, and she’s ready to celebrate this week.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A fireworks show, new food and more entertainment is in store at this year’s 175th edition of the Belmont County Fair.

The community will celebrate the fair’s 175th Anniversary from Sept. 2 to 8.

“It shows the dedication and commitment to agriculture and youth to have sustained this long,” said Belmont County Fair Board secretary Rebecca Selmon.

Belmont County Fair Board President Ed Campbell Selmon said this year features much more entertainment in honor of the 175th anniversary. Performances from Ashley Best, The Robinson Family and Gage Joseph to the David Alley Band and The Royal Bloos will take place for the community to enjoy.

Don Jovi: The Ultimate Tribute to the Music of Bon Jovi and The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Show will also take place. Performances from these artists will happen all week long, with a different artist performing each day.

Campbell said hitting 175 years of the fair means a lot to the Belmont County community.

“That’s a great milestone in the fair industry,” he said. “We strive to achieve the best we can do for everyone, and I just think 175 years, it’s just great.”

Other entertainment at the fair includes the Rafter M Rodeo, with events such as bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping and team roping.

There will be the Cowboy Corner and Trick Riding with Eme, Briar and Friends, as they’ll entertain crowds with trick riding stunts. The popular Truck and Tractor Pull will take place Saturday night, while the demolition derby will happen Sunday.

Many new food vendors will also make their way this year into the fair, as people celebrate 175 years.

Selmon said the majority of the fair board participated in 4H growing up or have children that participate in it, making the fair special to them.

“It ties in,” she said. “You see people running for the board that have a family attachment.”

Belmont County Board of Commissioners President Jerry Echmann said he urges the community to go out to the fair for the 175th anniversary and enjoy it even just for a day. He noted how the fair board is what keeps the fair going and how it’s able to come together every year.

“It’s just a good organization with good people,” he said. “And the whole idea is to keep our fair going in a proper way, and I think they’re achieved that goal.”

Fair goers will be able to enjoy the fair with Tuesday admission at $5 and general admission at $10 for Wednesday through Sunday. Season tickets are good for each day, excluding rides, for $25.

The fair will begin with opening ceremonies on Monday with a flag raising with the Belmont County Commissioners and dignitaries. Tuesday will include a junior. fair sheep show and showmanship and a junior fair rabbit weigh-in. Wednesday will begin with a junior fair poultry show and showmanship and end with a Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean show.

A junior fair horse contest starts out the day Thursday and a Hee Haw Variety Show will finish the day. On Friday, the junior fair dairy show takes place in the morning, while a fireworks show will take place at dusk. Saturday’s open beef show will happen in the morning, while the junior fair square dance ends the night. The fair will conclude on Sunday at 5 p.m.