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Missing the fair? Don't despair! Here's a schedule of county fairs in Northern Minnesota

KAXE
Published July 13, 2023 at 11:24 AM CDT
A woman is parallel to the ground as a man grips her like a weight bar while he lays on a weight bench. Behind him is a bright yellow sign with the red words "The Strong Man."
1 of 34  — The Strong Man, John Beatty, bench presses Dawn Waliski of Crosby.jpg
John Beatty, known as "The Strong Man," bench-presses Dawn Waliski of Crosby on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A man wearing a purple T-shirt with green lettering stating "The Strong Man" holds up a twisted red frying pan. He speaks into a mic over his ear.
2 of 34  — The Strong Man, John Beatty, holds a frying pan that he demonstrated bending.jpg
John Beatty, "The Strong Man," holds a frying pan that he demonstrated bending Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
"The Strong Man" leans over and his fingers are entwined together around something. Two people are blurry in the foreground.
3 of 34  — The Strong Man, John Beatty, bends a steel bar.jpg
John Beatty, "The Strong Man," bends a steel bar Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A bucket has a sign taped to it. The sign says "TIPS - Help pay for my next hernia!"
4 of 34  — The Strong Man, John Beatty_s tip jar.jpg
A tip jar sits near the demonstration area of John Beatty, "The Strong Man," on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Jasper Hilton takes a bite of a corndog Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
5 of 34  — Jasper Hilton has a bite of corndog.jpg
Jasper Hilton takes a bite of a corndog Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Potter Reggie Delarm of Connecticut makes tiny pots Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin. She was part of the Early American Trade Demonstration at the fair.
6 of 34  — Potter Reggie Delarm from Connecticut makes tiny pots. She_s part of Early American Trade Demonstration at fairs.jpg
Potter Reggie Delarm of Connecticut makes tiny pots Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin. She was part of the Early American Trade Demonstration at the fair.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A little girl in pink and a baseball cap touches the nose of a brown pony with a white spot on its face.
7 of 34  — Petting a pony at the pony ride.jpg
A child pets a pony at the pony ride Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Riders look down from above on the Rock It pendulum ride Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
8 of 34  — Riders on the Rock It pendulum ride.jpg
Riders look down from above on the Rock It pendulum ride Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Riders enjo Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
9 of 34  — Riders on a flying ride.jpg
Two children enjoy a flying ride Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Ribbons are attached to the cage of prize-winning chickens Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
10 of 34  — Prize winning chickens.jpg
Ribbons are attached to the cage of prize-winning chickens Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A little girl takes a bit of food as her grandmother holds a napkin underneath it. The grandmother is wearing a baseball cap that says "Up North Girl" in pink writing and a camouflage bill.
11 of 34  — People at Aitkin County Fair.jpg
Suzanne Snider visiting from the state of Virginia and her granddaughter try deep-fried cookie dough Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A small boy rides a horse on the carousel. He is gripping the post with one hand and looking out toward the camera. Other children are visible around him.
12 of 34  — Riding the carousel.jpg
A boy rides the carousel Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Three boys stand at the top of a tall slide. All three look down as they arrange their gray carpets to ride down the slide. The slides are pink, green and blue and a sign above them in rainbow letters and with bulbs says "Fun Slide."
13 of 34  — 02 The Fun Slide.jpg
Three kids prepare their carpets to slide down the Fun Slide on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A boy wearing a red jersey and a white baseball cap outstretches his arms as he rides on a gray carpet down a lime green slide.
14 of 34  — The Fun Slide.jpg
A boy enjoys his ride down the Fun Slide on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A small boy holds the hands of two adults on either side of him as they walk up a concrete path toward a stone archway. A sign says "Aitkin County Fair July 5th-8th." Another nearby sign says "Kindness Rocks: Take One, Leave One, Share One."
15 of 34  — The fair grounds entrance.jpg
Fairgoers walk toward the entrance Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A goat appears to smile for the camera Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
16 of 34  — Thorn_s kid.jpg
A goat appears to smile for the camera Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
17 of 34  — Thorn the goat.jpg
Thorn the goat is curious about the camera Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A man and a woman sit at a picnic table and hold an orange and yellow balloon animal. The man has his arm around the woman and there are trays of food in front of them.
18 of 34  — They_re The Aitkin Chicken Coop on Green Cheese!.jpg
Two fairgoers are, in fact, also known as the "Aitkin Chicken Coop" on KAXE's "Green Cheese." The two were at the Aitkin County Fair on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A judge surveys the scene as a couple Aitkin County 4-Hers lead their pigs as part of the swine show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
19 of 34  — 03 The Swine Show.jpg
A judge surveys the scene as a couple Aitkin County 4-Hers lead their pigs as part of the swine show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A boy wearing a cowboy hat, plaid shirt and blue jeans stands over a black and white spotted pig. He is talking into a microphone held by an adult, who is also wearing a cowboy hat. In the background, another pig and its child handler can be seen.
20 of 34  — 06 The Swine Show.jpg
A participant in the swine show speaks into a microphone while showing his pig Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A light brown-colored pig is walking next to a pair of legs.
21 of 34  — 01 The Swine Show.jpg
A pig walks next to its owner during the swine show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A judge stands next to a teen while both look at a pig participating in the swine show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
22 of 34  — 02 The Swine Show.jpg
A judge stands next to a teen while both look at a pig participating in the swine show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A few small children stand in a pen with pigs. A dark brown pig is in the foreground. A man holds a microphone up to one of the kids. A girl has the number 36 pinned to her back.
23 of 34  — 05 The Swine Show.jpg
Kids participate in the swine show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Two pigs lay in the dirt next to one another awaiting their participation in the swine show. A pair of legs wearing blue jeans and dusty boots stands next to the pigs.
24 of 34  — 04 The Swine Show.jpg
Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Jack Voller poses with his calf Tag at th Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
25 of 34  — Jack Voller with his calf named Tag.jpg
Jack Voller poses with his calf Tag at the calf show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Henry Nicko leads his calf Coco in the calf show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin. Henry earned Grand Champion in Showmanship for grades 3-5.
26 of 34  — Henry Nicko with his calf, Coco he won Grand Champion in Showmanship grades 3-5.jpg
Henry Nicko leads his calf Coco in the calf show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin. Henry earned Grand Champion in Showmanship for grades 3-5.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
Four boys stand looking into a pen with their backs to the camera. One has the number 61 on his back as a participant in one of the livestock shows.
27 of 34  — Watching the Calf Show.jpg
A group of kids line the gate to watch the calf show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A small child wearing a leopard-print jumper holds a kids' fishing pole over a pool with magnetic fish.
28 of 34  — Aalayah Wadena of McGregor tries out the fishing game.jpg
Aalayah Wadena of McGregor tries out the fishing game Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A colorful roller coaster that looks like a dragon is in the foreground of a colorful scene depicting princesses and kids.
29 of 34  — Dragon rollercoaster.jpg
Children ride a dragon roller coaster Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A little girl smiles with an open mouth. She is wearing a teal tank top and a skirt along with a large star-shaped necklace and hair clips. A woman in red is in the background with a malt cup.
30 of 34  — Abigail Ladd of Aitkin at the magic show.jpg
Abigail Ladd of Aitkin smiles at the magic show Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A girl rests her hands on her knees and looks forward while participating in a magic show. The magician leans over her and points toward her. He is wearing a blue polo shirt that says "The Amazing Charles."
31 of 34  — Abigail Ladd of Aitkin with magician, Amazing Charles.jpg
Abigail Ladd of Aitkin participates in a magic show with magician Amazing Charles on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A man juggles baseballs inside a fair booth with a variety of stuffed animals hanging from the ceiling and sides. Three rows of plates are lined up behind him.
32 of 34  — Andrew Muench of Elco, Wisconsin juggles as he waits for player to knock down the plates at his Break A Plate game.jpg
Andrew Muench of Elcho, Wisconsin, juggles as he waits for player to knock down the plates at his Break A Plate game Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A child holds a fishing pole with a magnet attached at a county fair game. He is wearing a Superman shirt and a red bucket hat.
33 of 34  — Aitkin County Fair - Giovanni Valentino
Giovanni Valentino works on his fishing skills Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE
A man dressed as Paul Bunyan poses with Paul and Sue of McGregor on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
34 of 34  — Paul Bunyan with Paul and Sue of McGregor.jpg
A man dressed as Paul Bunyan poses with Paul and Sue of McGregor on Friday, July 7, 2023, at the Aitkin County Fair in Aitkin.
Lorie Shaull / Special to KAXE

It's county fair season, and people from across the region enjoyed traditional fair foods, rides and livestock events in Aitkin.

AITKIN — The Aitkin County Fair took place July 5-8 in Aitkin, and KAXE contributing photographer Lorie Shaull was there to capture a slice of Minnesota summer life.

Haven't been to the fair? Don't despair! Several county fairs are ahead in Northern Minnesota, including:

  • Lake of the Woods County Fair, Wednesday through Sunday, July 12-16.
  • Cass County Fair (Pillager), Thursday through Saturday, July 13-15.
  • Marshall County Fair, July 19-23.
  • East Otter Tail County Fair, July 20-23.
  • Crow Wing County Fair, Aug. 1-5.
  • St. Louis County Fair, Aug. 2-6.
  • Beltrami County Fair, Aug. 9-13.
  • Lake County Fair, Aug. 10-13.
  • Koochiching County Fair, Aug. 11-13.
  • Itasca County Fair, Aug. 16-20.
  • Carlton County Fair, Aug. 17-20.
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