171st annual Calhoun County Fair

From 171st annual Calhoun County Fair Website:

Join us for the 171st Annual Calhoun County FairAugust 11-17, 2019!

The Calhoun County Fair was first held November 5, 1839, behind what is now the Presbyterian Church, and was run by the first Calhoun County Agricultural & Industrial Society. The main reason for the fair was to educate the area farmers on the newest technology available at that time.

In 1845, a Mechanics Fair was held on the "Capital Hill" site, which was so named because it was thought that Marshall would become Michigan's state capital. However, Lansing won the right by one vote.

The Calhoun County Agricultural & Industrial Society reorganized in 1848 and held the next gathering at Capital Hill in 1849. It was at that time they decided to make it a yearly event, and it has existed as such ever since. In the years to follow, subsequent fairs were not always held at the same location. In fact, in 1852, the fair was held in an old warehouse/depot on Hart Street. A newspaper article in 1856 reported that the 8th annual Calhoun County Fair was held.