OSKALOOSA — There’s going to be something for everyone at the Southern Iowa Fair this next week.

The Southern Iowa Fair runs from Monday, July 16, through Saturday, July 21, at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds in Oskaloosa.

There will be some new grandstand events and entertainment this year as well as standard fare at the fair.

Southern Iowa Fair office manager Kelly Long said Figure 8 racing Thursday night will be one of the new events this year. Long said that cars race in a Figure 8 pattern and try to miss each other as they travel along the course.

Besides the Figure 8 races, there will be two other nights of racing action at the Southern Iowa Speedway.

Tuesday night features the Hawkeye Dirt Tour series with four classes of racing that begins at 7 p.m. with hot laps and 7:30 p.m. races.

Wednesday night, the IMCA races will take to the “Half-mile Monster” with four classes of racing with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.

Besides racing, the Southern Iowa Speedway grandstand will be the scene for live concerts during fair week.

Friday night, The Little River Band and Molly Hatchet take the stage. The night of 1970s rock begins at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday night will be an evening of country music at the grandstand as Sammy Kershaw, Ricochet, Jason Brown and Sydney Lett take the stage. The music begins at 6 p.m.

Long said people should get their concert tickets in advance to save some money. Concert tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door the day of the concert, she said.

Fair week is filled with activities for the whole family.

The Southern Iowa Fair Queen contest kicks off the week at 6 p.m. Monday. Then, Nick Ryan & Company takes the stage for a free concert at 7:30 p.m.

During the week, Cow Town USA will have a show every day at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“It’s an educational program,” Long said. “They bring in a milking cow and kids and learn how to milk a cow.”

Children also will learn how to make butter and ice cream during the “hands-on” educational shows, she added.

Another educational exhibit that’s new this year is the Iowa State University Insect Zoo that will be at the fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be plenty of contests for children throughout the week. There will be coloring contests, cookie stacking, chicken washing demonstrations, a bubble gum blowing contest, joke telling contests and a cookie decorating contest.

Saturday morning, there will be the annual Diaper Derby and Decorated Diaper Contest at the Free Stage. Later in the day, there will be the Third Annual Pinewood Derby and the Hawkeye Pedal Power Pull.

For grown-ups, there will be the Backyard Barbecue Contest as well as the arm wrestling contest on Saturday. The Rocking H Chuck Wagon will be on the fairgrounds Friday and Saturday to do outdoor cooking demonstrations and hand out free food samples.

Throughout the week, other popular entertainment includes the quilt show, the antique tractor display with a feature Allis Chalmer tractor, open class exhibits and 4-H and FFA exhibits, as well as the apple pie and cinnamon roll contests.

Long is looking forward to the fair this year.

“We’ve had a lot of good feedback on the concerts and entertainment,” she said.

Also, the racing events should draw a good crowd.

“The racing at the speedway has been really good,” she said. “There’s a good car count and good attendance.”

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Herald Editor Duane Nollen can be reached by email at oskynews@oskyherald.com