NORTHWOOD, Iowa — A shift in timing shouldn’t have any negative impacts on one local fair this summer. In fact, it is expected to enhance the event.

The Worth County Fair is scheduled June 15-19, which is one week earlier than normal.

Worth County Fair President Bob Hall said the reason for the change was simple.

“The carnival we had went bankrupt,” he said. “It’s hard to get carnivals to small fairs, and it turned out we could get our old one, which was really good.”

Smith Amusements will provide the carnival rides and games.

The crowning of the Miss Worth County Fair Queen will kick off the festivities on June 15. Grandstand entertainment will include a tractor pull, demolition derby and, new this year, a dueling pianos music show. Other entertainment will include a baby contest, Nick’s Kids Show and chainsaw carver Duane Nelson. Hall said additional entertainment will be announced after the fair board meets on Sunday to finalize the lineup.

Hall said the timing worked out better this way also because the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference, slated for June 28-30, would have interfered with youth participation in the county fair dates had they kept their usual week.

The Worth County Fair is held at the Worth County Fairgrounds in Northwood.

The Freeborn County Fair, held at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds in Albert Lea, is scheduled for Aug. 2-7.

Other area county fair dates include the Mower County Fair in Austin slated for Aug. 9-14, the Waseca County Free Fair July 13-17, Steele County Free Fair Aug. 16-21 and the Blue Earth County Fair July 28-31.

The Winnebago County Junior Show and Fair, held in Thompson, Iowa, is slated for July 21-24.