2019 Special Features
Special Features Overview
Each year the fair brings in special features, events, acts and/or performers to delight the crowds. Often these special features are new to the fair, but they also could be returning acts that have been recent crowd favorites! Either way, there is no guarantee these events will return next year, so make sure you come see them while you can!
2019 Special Features Lineup
While more acts may be added as the fair draws near, our current special event lineup for the fair includes…
- Dino-ROAR (Interactive show & exhibit)
- First Bite Fishing Tank (Fish a stocked tank)
- Bear Hollow Chainsaw Carving Demos & Auction
- Elite Performance K9s (Frisbee, obstacle course & trick dogs)
- Happily Ever After Productions (Princesses & Superheroes)
To learn when each of these special features will be at the fair, check out the descriptions, details and photos below!
Become a Sponsor!
Interesting in sponsoring one of our Special Features? Or perhaps you know of someone who might? Check out our Become a Sponsor page and help support the 501(c)3 not-for-profit Marion County Fair!
Dino-ROAR
Appearance Schedule
Dino-ROAR will be at the fair all 10 days! They will perform multiple roaming shows each day!
Monday – Thursday
6p & 8p
Fridays
7p & 9p
Saturdays & Sundays
1:30p, 4:30p & 7p
Appearance Location
Main Street
Description
The Dino-ROAR shows feature 8, life-like, animatronic dinosaurs! The dinosaurs and their puppeteer handlers will roam the admin plaza area multiple times each day of the fair. This educational & interactive show teaches kids fun facts about dinosaurs in a captivating manner.
Between shows fairgoers can browse the fossil tent, featuring fossils from all types of dinosaurs. Written descriptions are provided for each fossil so that fairgoers can look & learn about our prehistoric friends!
Visual Sneak Peak
First Bite Fishing Tank
Appearance Schedule
The First Bite Fishing Tank will be on-site all 10 days of the fair and open for fishing at any time (weather permitting).
Appearance Location
Admin Plaza
Description
This mobile fishing tank is stocked with fish that can be found in local streams, rivers & ponds! The primary goal of this exhibit is to teach the basics to those who know little or nothing about fishing. Instructors are on-site and there are multiple stations for people to try their hand at fishing. Fishers can learn the basics of casting, baiting, catch & release methods and more! Plus those with a little skill (or perhaps luck) may catch their own fish for all to see!
Visual Sneak Peak
Baird Petting Zoo
Appearance Schedule
The Baird Petting Zoo will be on-site all 10 days of the fair!
Appearance Location
Community Youth Building
Description
The Baird Petting Zoo is a free attraction with optional costs for feed bags. The building is full of a wide variety of farm and exotic animals! Check out everything from sheep, cows, goats and more! Past exotic animals have included camels, zebra, kangaroos, etc. Who knows what surprises will be there this year!
Visual Sneak Peak
Elite Performance K9s
Presented by Noah’s Animal Hospitals
and Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Care
Appearance Schedule
The Elite Performance K9’s will be at the fair for 5 days, performing multiple shows each day! Below are the dates & times they’ll be on-site.
- Saturday, June 22
- 3:30 – 4
- 5:30 – 6
- 7:30 – 8
- Sunday, June 23
- 2:30 – 3
- 5 – 5:30
- 7:30 – 8
- Friday, June 28
- 6:30 – 7
- 8:30 – 9
- Saturday, June 29
- 1 – 1:30
- 3:30 – 4
- 6 – 6:30
- 8:30 – 9
- Sunday, June 30
- 3:30 – 4
- 6 – 6:30
- 8 – 8:30
Appearance Location
Coliseum Lawn
Description
Elite Performance K9’s is a family owned company from the Indy area. All of our dogs were rescued and are part of our family. We use positive training techniques which shows when our dogs are performing. We all love what we are doing. This passion and enjoyment carries over to make our shows fun and enjoyable for everyone. Our shows are scripted, high energy and entertaining for all! We pride ourselves on having a show with a variety of rescued breeds!
Visual Sneak Peak
Bear Hollow Chainsaw Carving Demos & Auction
Appearance Schedule
Bear Hallow Chainsaw Carver Jason Emmons will be at the fair for 3 days, performing multiple shows each day! Then his master craftsmanship will be auctioned off on the final day of the fair! Below are the dates & times he’ll be on-site.
Carving Demos
- Friday, June 21
- 6 – 7
- 8 – 9
- Saturday, June 22
- 2 – 3
- 4 – 5
- 6 – 7
- 8 – 9
- Sunday, June 23
- 12:30 – 1:30
- 3 – 4
- 5:30 – 6:30
- 8 – 9
Auction
- Sunday, June 30
Appearance Location
Coliseum Lawn
Description
Professional chainsaw wood carving artist Jason Emmons will be back again representing the Bear Hollow Wood Carving Team! He’ll carve many wood pieces (large, medium & small) during his demonstration times. You’ll be able to watch the precision, craftsmanship and artistry that goes into turning a tree trunk into beautiful art… with a chainsaw!
Best of all, when his work is finished, you can buy it! The fair will set a buy-now price on each item Jason carves and you can buy it on the spot. Or you can take your chances that no one else will buy the item and hope it makes it to auction day on the final day of the fair. During the auction, any of the items that didn’t meet their buy-now price will sell to the highest bidder!
Visual Sneak Peak
Princesses & Superheroes
Appearance Schedule
Princesses & Superheroes will be at the fair for both Kid’s Days! Below are the dates & times they’ll be on-site. There will be a meet & greet with photo opportunities in the Marketplace Building after each performance!
- Saturday, June 22
- 3 – 3:30 Superheroes
- Capt. America & Spiderman
- 4 – 4:45 Princesses
- Rapunzel & Cinderella
- 3 – 3:30 Superheroes
- Saturday, June 29
- 3 – 3:30 Superheroes
- Batman & Wonder Woman
- 4 – 4:45 Princesses
- Belle & Jasmine
- 3 – 3:30 Superheroes
Appearance Location
Park Stage – Performance
Marketplace – Meet & Greet
Description
From the land of Happily Ever After Productions comes Princesses and Superheroes to the Marion County Fair! These famous faces will highlight the Kid’s Day performances on Park Stage for both Saturdays of the fair! Superheroes will tell their story and engage children in an interactive display of signature hero moves and fun! While the Princesses will share their stories through song & dance performances!
After their performances, the Superheroes & Princesses will make their way over to the Marketplace building where they will meet their fans and pose for pictures!
Visual Sneak Peak
Hot Air Balloon
Appearance Schedule
Beginning at roughly 7p each evening and running until 11p. (weather permitting)
- Friday, June 21
- Saturday, June 22
- Friday, June 28
Appearance Location
Oval Arena
Description
Our friends at Midwest Balloon Rides will bring a tethered hot air balloon to allow fairgoers a chance to see the midway from the skies! For $15 per person, you can take a ride up, get some great views, snap some great pictures and then come back down where you started! The balloon basket is wheelchair accessible and capable of taking up multiple riders at a time.
Weather limitations
Conditions have to be ideal to raise the balloon in the sky. The operation of the balloon each scheduled evening is at the sole discretion of the balloon operators from Midwest Balloon Rides. If they don’t believe conditions are safe, they will not take riders up in the balloon!
Visual Sneak Peak
