Street Fair Opens This Week
Holden’s biggest celebration of the year opens this week – Thursday, August 26 (tonight) and the three-day extravaganza promises excitement and fun for the whole family!
The Holden Street Fair is celebrating its 138th anniversary and all Holden natives are ready for the celebration to begin! Last year in 2020, organizers were forced to cancel the Fair, for only the second time in its illustrious 138-year history, due to the COVID pandemic.
But it’s back this year, and as advertised, will be filled with all your favorite events, along with some new ones.
Kicking off the Street Fair are the Mr. and Miss Holden contests, set for Thursday, August 26 (tonight) at the grandstand.
The contests begin at 6:30 p.m. and always draw a big crowd.
After the king and queen shows Thursday evening, take a stroll down 2nd Street and peruse the vendor booths, then head back to the city parking lot and take in the carnival with all the exciting rides and games of chance and skill.
Don’t forget to fill up on that delicious Fair food!
Be sure to visit the local food booths as well, with barbecue, taco salads, and a variety of other pallet-pleasing offerings!
Friday, enjoy the carnival and stop by the Community Activity Center (CAC) and see all of the displays, which include home ec., agriculture, art, photos, quilts, the flower show, and much more.
Fairly new to the Fair is the wildly popular Cornhole Tournament, which gets underway Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the Stubb Roberts Memorial ballfields.
Although it’s only been held for a couple of years at the Fair, it’s always a big draw and promises an exciting evening of some serious cornhole competition, as avid “bag throwers” compete for the coveted first place title!
Saturday, the fun begins bright and early with the 5K Fun Run, and a shotgun start at 7 a.m. by city hall.
You’ve heard it said, “There’s only one beautiful baby in the world and every mother has it!”
Well, everyone’s beautiful babies will be featured at the Baby Show, which will begin at the CAC at 8:30 a.m.
It’s a new starting time so don’t miss it!
After the Baby Show, contests start downtown, including the Dog Show at 11 a.m. in front of the grandstand, and the children’s races and contests on 3rd St. in front of city hall at 10:30 a.m.
The Car Show will commence on Saturday in its usual location at Tilden’s Quick Lube & Tire.
Gates open at 9 a.m. and winners are announced around 2 p.m.
Stroll through the fairgrounds for demonstrations and fun.
Check out the grandstand for the first-class entertainment all three days and nights of the Fair.
Don’t miss the decorated window displays up and down 2nd St. And everyone’s favorite – the grand finale of the Fair – the Parade!
It leaves from the high school at 5 p.m. and the caravan will make it downtown by 5:30.
Enjoy the horses, floats, antique cars and tractors, and a variety of other entries.
And as usual, the annual beer garden will be held from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., in the parking lot of Jamie’s Place.
It’s for adults only, you must be 21 to enter.
Attend or participate in your favorite contest, play some games, eat a funnel cake or simply enjoy your hometown’s celebration of our roots at this year’s Street Fair!
