Amirah Spoors leads her horse Pirate during a horse event at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Neighbors converge for fair fun: showing or judging livestock, enjoying classic or new foods on offer, admiring prize-winning artwork or baked goods or simply gathering in community.
GRAND RAPIDS — The Itasca County Fair is among the last of the county fairs in the state before the Great Minnesota Get-Together — the Minnesota State Fair.
Running Aug. 19-23, the fair in Grand Rapids is dubbed "The Best 5 Days of Summer!!!" People from across the region converge at the fairgrounds for fair fun, whether they're showing or judging livestock, enjoying classic or new foods on offer, admiring prize-winning artwork or baked goods or simply gathering in community.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
4-H contestants wait with their rabbits to be judged in the Rabbit Show at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Friday morning featured the horse show and the 4-H rabbit and sheep judging. The Overtones Quartet performed at the Green Space Tent, and the Strongman Show entertained crowds at the Trailhead Building.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
The Overtones Quartet perform at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Beautiful late summer weather greeted fairgoers and participants alike — with more picture-perfect weather in the forecast through the weekend. The National Weather Service in Duluth expects two nearly identical days, with highs of 74-75 degrees and sunny skies. It'll be chilly overnight, though, dipping to the mid-40s with mostly clear to partly cloudy skies.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
John Beatty, The Strong Man, bends metal at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
There's still plenty to see and do. On Saturday, watch the county's best goats and cattle strut their stuff, take in the 4-H BBQ Challenge, see the Just for Kix dancers perform or listen to the music of Chuck Domagal or the Woodpicks. Sunday includes Supreme Showmanship demonstrations and the competition, Vicki's Reptile Lounge and the Amazing Charles.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Malorie Thorson, the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way, talks with Jerry Latola at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
An of course, there's lots of opportunities to check out the midway carnival, face painting, eating and drinking.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Levi and Faith Calgaro take a break in the Cattle Barn at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
A silhouette of people walking through the Horse Barn at Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Karol Carlson shows her cow in the open dairy competition at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Baily Porter competes with Milli, a commercial spring lamb, at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Vanna Bennett holds her Ameraucana chicken that won first place at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
1 of 11 — A freshly cooked ear of corn at the Corn Palace at Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
A freshly cooked ear of corn at the Corn Palace at Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
2 of 11 — Oliver Erickson prepares an order of corn at the Corn Palace at Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Oliver Erickson prepares an order of corn at the Corn Palace at Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
3 of 11 — John Beatty, The Strong Man lifts six children at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
John Beatty, The Strong Man, lifts six children at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
4 of 11 — John Beatty, The Strong Man, holds up metal that he bent into the shape of a heart at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
John Beatty, The Strong Man, holds up metal that he bent into the shape of a heart at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
5 of 11 — Zen, a brown wether lamb born on March 13, 2026, appears to smile for the camera at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Zen, a brown wether lamb born March 13, 2026, appears to smile for the camera at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
6 of 11 — Katie Mousel competes in a sheep event at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Katie Mousel competes in a sheep event at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
7 of 11 — Sawyer Lindula grooms his sheep Ruben to prepare for competition at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Sawyer Lindula grooms his sheep Ruben to prepare for competition at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
8 of 11 — Jack Mousel holds his rabbit Vanilla Latte at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Jack Mousel holds his rabbit Vanilla Latte at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026. Vanilla Latte won a blue ribbon.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
9 of 11 — Natalie Holm holds a kitten up for adoption iin the Children's Barn at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Natalie Holm holds a kitten up for adoption in the Children's Barn at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
10 of 11 — Lucas Carlson shows his cow in the 4-H dairy competition at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Lucas Carlson shows his cow in the 4-H dairy competition at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
11 of 11 — Jamie Brown walks her Hereford to the Livestock Barn at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on August 21, 2026.jpg
Jamie Brown walks her Hereford to the Livestock Barn at the Itasca County Fair in Grand Rapids on Aug. 21, 2026.
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