Shifting dates

Get ready for a patriotic fair.

Jay County Fair Board announced Thursday morning that the 2025 Jay County Fair will run from June 28 through July 5 and partner with carnival company Kissel Entertainment for its midway.

Though the fair has shifted dates over its 150-plus years, it has been slotted in the week following Independence Day in recent years. For 2025, the Fourth of July will fall during fair week.

The fair board noted that it is working with the Jay County 4th of July Committee to continue to offer its annual holiday events at the fairgrounds during the fair. Jay County 4-H will also shift its schedule, with its activities beginning June 26 and concluding with the auction on Thursday, July 3.

“We are incredibly excited about the 2025 Jay County Fair,” said fair board president Aaron Loy. “Our goal is to create a memorable experience for everyone who attends, and we’re working hard to ensure that this next year’s fair will be filled with fun, excitement and community pride. We are combining the two largest local community events into one and feel this will be one of the best fairs to date.”

The date change came in part to allow the fair board to partner with Kissel, which will be at the Bartholomew County Fair in late June before coming to Jay County and Fort Wayne’s Three Rivers Festival the following week.

Kissel is playing at the Kentucky State Fair this week.

“We are thrilled and honored to work with the great Jay County Fair, a cherished institution that has been entertaining its community since 1872,” said Kissel Entertainment’s R.A. Kissel in a press release. “Our team is excited to bring our innovative attractions and exceptional service to the wonderful people of Jay County. We look forward to ... contributing to the continued success of this historic fair.”

Primetime Carnival Company provided the midway attractions for the Jay County Fair for the last three years.

Kissel Entertainment (KisselFun.com) was founded by Russel and Ralph Kissel in 1932 when they began offering pony rides at a Coney Island amusement park near Cincinnati.

Fair board members visited the Bartholomew County Fair in June to see Kissel in action.

“They’re probably the top ride company in the Midwest,” said Loy. “It’s a clean operation. They provide their own ground entertainment throughout, benches, tent throughout to provide to provide shade for people. They say they try to be like Disney, and I would say they are very similar to being a Disney-type operation wehre they’re trying to make it a whole experience for the family.”

The fair board said additional details about event schedules and tickets will be released in the coming months.