JESSICA KLUMPP, SHOW DIRECTOR, marks exhibits that will be shown at the Florence County Fair. The fair opens today and will host its first truck pull at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds on County Road N south of Florence, Wisconsin. (Photo: Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News)

FLORENCE, Wisconsin – The 120th annual Florence County Fair opens today at 5 p.m. with a new event and the return of some old favorites.

A new route has been created for the first truck pull of the fair. The event begins today at 7 p.m. Registration is possible from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“The truck pull is the big change,” said Jessica Klumpp, executive director and treasurer. “We didn’t do truck pulling, we did garden tractor pulling.”

The sign on the street will also be replaced, but otherwise no changes have been made to the exhibition grounds this year, she said.

If you want to sing along, there will be an audience at Vicki’s Karaoke tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A karaoke competition with cash prizes for the top three will take place on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Further entertainment on Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight will be provided by the rock band Bad Mother Truckers from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The annual Mud Bog runs begin Saturday at noon, with registration from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The cricket competition will be held at the fair for the first time since pre-COVID-19 and is scheduled for 11am on Saturday. There will also be old-fashioned children’s games, Grandma’s Garden and an agricultural education area for children.

The popular kids’ party will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday and will be all about Taylor Swift. Kids can make or bring bracelets. Prizes will be awarded for best outfit and best Taylor Swift-themed outfit. There will also be art projects, snacks, games and music. The party is free to attend, but space is limited. Register by calling 906-181-9153, texting or emailing [email protected].

The Wisconsin Arm Wrestling Club returns for its second year on Saturday. Weigh-ins will be held from 4-5 p.m., junior and amateur matches will begin at 5 p.m., and women’s and open competitions will begin at 7 p.m. The final events of the evening will be the men’s super fights, with prizes awarded to the top three places.

Popular local variety band Next Myle will perform on Saturday from 7pm to 11pm.

Sunday events at the fair include the Classic Car & Motorcycle Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a performance by local country band Lovin’ Country starting at 11 a.m.

Back at the fair, there is an additional class called pony pulling before the draft horse pulling. The pony pulling starts at 1:00 p.m. The draft horse pulling is at 3:00 p.m. Lovin’ Country will also perform between the pony pulling and the draft horse pulling.

This year there will be bounce houses and inflatables from Jakes Jumpers on Friday and Saturday. Cost is $10 for a day or $20 for the weekend.

The exhibition building is open today from 5 p.m., on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with exhibition approval.

Admission to the fair is $10 per day per person for those 12 and older, or $20 for the entire fair weekend. Admission is free for those under 11. The Florence County Fair Park is located at 5505 County Road N, just 1/3 mile south of US 2 in Florence.

“The weather is supposed to be great,” said Klumpp. “You know you can plan all year round. You can plan and plan and plan, but you can’t control the weather. So we hope people will come.”