By HEATHER

ZIEGLER

Associate City Editor

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — The 2017 Washington County Agricultural Fair, slated for Aug. 12-19, promises to entertain with country music headliner Joe Diffie, as well as a new Houdini-like act sure to bring fair-goers to the edges of their seats.

The eight-day fair will include the traditional free tractor pull event on the Friday night before the official start on Aug. 12 when the midway and other events get into full swing, said fair director Wayne Hunnell.

Hunnell said this year there will not be a rodeo but something new and exciting to delight the crowd. New this year are the American Racing Mower Association lawn mower races. These are national point series races and Hunnell expects a large number of participants racing all types of engines in multiple classes.

The entertainment heats up when country music star Diffie takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17. He will be preceded by Caroline Kole opening at 6 p.m. and Keith Anderson at 7 p.m.

Entertainment at the fair takes on a new twist with Josh Knotts and Lea, who are billed as the Extreme Illusions and Escape artists. Knotts has been called “the Houdini of West Virginia” due to his edge-of-your-seat acts. This will be a 30-90-minute show sure to provide the audience with an unforgettable experience, Hunnell said.

Knotts received a bachelor’s degree in theater from West Virginia University, and has performed across the country.

Another popular event at the fair will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 16 when area senior high school bands will perform. And don’t forget the popular school bus demolition derby at 6 p.m. that day.

Other attractions include side by side four-wheel drive quads on Aug. 13, pro stock tractors and hot semis on Aug. 14, Monster Trucks on Aug. 15, street stock trucks on Aug. 18 and a demolition derby on Aug. 19.

Students from the local schools will once again be painting the school buses for the school bus demolition derby on the Wednesday before the fair. This year’s theme for the bus art will be “Finding Nemo.”

Margo Bonal from Hickory, Pa. designed the fair’s winning premium program cover art this year, with the theme of “Country Scenes: Blue Ribbon Dreams.”

The halls are closed on Aug. 11 for judging of the exhibits. Last year. there fair had 13,018 exhibits from 2, 853 exhibitors. For more information online go to washington fair.org.