LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - One of Ohio’s largest county fairs has finished its run, but Allen County Fair officials have only days to prepare the fairgrounds for the next major event.
Crews were busy early Sunday morning tearing down and cleaning up following the 176th Allen County Fair.
The barns are empty, and food trucks have packed up and are preparing to move on to their next events.
Fair officials said the nine-day fair was a success thanks to the hard work of fairgrounds staff, the fair board and volunteers.
“It's a real sense of fulfillment for me and I'm very proud of everything that we've accomplished out here and I'm grateful for everything that we've accomplished and I'm really looking forward to the 2027 fair. The planning's already started and I think we got some pretty exciting things in store for folks in the coming year,” says Troy Elwer, Operations Manager, Allen County Fairgrounds.
While the Allen County Fair is the largest event held at the fairgrounds, the second-largest event of the year is just days away.
“With Max's Trader Days and Water Dog races, it's the largest event that we have aside from the fair in a calendar year and I'm just so grateful for the maintenance team that we have and the directors that help turn things over as well because it's pretty incredible. We only have about a three-day window here before Max's people will be taking over but the team never ceases to amaze me and we get the place turned over for another incredible event,” adds Elwer.
More than 1,800 traders and vendors are expected to move in this week for Max’s Trader Days and Water Dog Races.
The event will open Friday, Sept. 4, and continue through Sunday, Sept. 6.
