Bids close next Monday on several new additions to the Overton County Fairgrounds.
Fair Board President Ronnie Smith said a new pavilion and expanded restrooms will be part of the project. Smith said several of the events that are held in other locations around the fairgrounds will be moved to the pavilion allowing the fair to add more activities.
“Well, when we build the pavilion that’ll open up the Ag Building where we can go ahead and have something in there, too,” Smith said. “Like, we have weightlifting contests during the fair and all sorts of stuff in there. So we can have, have something going on it both buildings that way and just make, make a bigger fair.”
Smith said the 120×60 foot open-sided pavilion will be the new home for concerts and beauty pageants. Smith said the current restrooms will be torn down and rebuilt on the same location. Smith said these upgrades will begin to take shape after this year’s fair is over.
“We don’t want the construction going on during the fair time,” Smith said. “That’s just too much liability and to much, just too much going on. So, on August first is when they’ll start. Hopefully we will tear down the bathroom August first or second, get it torn down and out of the way where they can start building the pavilion and the bathrooms.”
Smith said the fair received a $650,000 grant for the projects. Smith said he expects the fair board may have to add to that amount.
