Though the Freeborn County Fair may still be months away, the nightly grandstand entertainers have been picked. Leading the bill is none other than American country music singer George Jones.

As done in the past two years, there will be one show each night starting at 8:30 p.m.

Opening the fair Tuesday, Aug. 3, will be country musician Justin Moore, who recently was on tour with Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert, said Mike Woitas with the Freeborn County Fair Board.

On Wednesday, Aug. 4, will be up-and-coming country group Love and Theft, which just hooked up with the Tim McGraw tour.

Then on Thursday, Aug. 5, will be Jo Dee Messina, who’s been honored by the Country Music Association and the Academy of County Music. Messina has also been nominated for a Grammy Award and has had nine No. 1 singles on the Billboard country music charts.

On Friday, Aug. 7, Jones, “The Possum,” will perform.

Woitas said he’s had several people ask him if this is the real George Jones. “It is really George Jones.”

On Saturday, Aug. 8, there will be a change of pace with alternative rock group Hinder performing.

Woitas said the younger crowds have requested someone other than a country musician, so he and the board members are changing things up a bit to grow a different avenue.

Reserve seat tickets for any of the concerts were available starting Dec. 16 and can be obtained by calling the Freeborn County Fair office at 373-6965. There are limited hours during the winter, so people should leave their name and phone number when they call, Woitas said.

So far, the George Jones concert has sold the most reserve tickets, with a little over 150 sold, and the Hinder concert has sold the second most reserve tickets, he said.

Reserve seating is $25.

General admission is $9 to the fair, with the unreserved seating to the grandstand on a first-come, first-serve basis.