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Carnival rides, games, and food are just some of what the fair offers. (photo by Gage Wilson/Glasgow News 1)

Barren County Fair begins Saturday, beauty pageants relocated

Jun 19, 2025 | 3:33 PM

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

For the next seven or eight days, one thing will likely monopolize people’s attention: the Barren County Fair.

The 71st annual festival, sponsored by the Temple Hill Lyons Club, will begin on Saturday, June 21, with a demolition derby at 7 p.m. followed by numerous beauty pageants, which this year will be in the Barren County High School auditorium instead of the typical location of the Temple Hill Fair Grounds.

Fair Manager William Myatt said the pageants were moved so they could take place indoors. He said the plan was to construct a multipurpose space at the fairgrounds, but was not possible as the construction costs outstripped the amount the fair received through grants.


He added that beauty pageants have been declining in attendance across the state and so they are “looking for every advantage” to keep having some of “the better beauty pageants in the state.”

All events — except the beauty pageants — are at the Temple Hill Fair Grounds. The fair lineup is:

  • Tuesday, June 24 — Catfish Wrestlin’ at 6 p.m. and the bull whip rodeo at 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 25 — A cornhole tournament at 6 p.m. and a youth ATV rodeo at 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 26 — An open ATV rodeo at 7 p.m. and wrestlin’ at 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, June 27 — A truck and tractor pull at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 28 — Kids Pedal Pull at 5 p.m. and KTPA truck and tractor pull at 7 p.m.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell came to the Barren County Fair in 2024. Myatt joked Shell signing up for the ever-popular Catfish Wrestlin’.

“After speaking with [Shell] this week, I believe he’s going to attend again,” Myatt said. “He told me he’s thinking about coming and competing in [the Catfish Wrestlin’] but we’ll see.”

Ticket prices for general admission, which Myatt said gets a person access to all the events for that night, is $15. There is no charge for parking, Myatt said.

The carnival rides will be erected on June 24.

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