​Looking Back: 1999 Grain Valley Fair

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
While researching the August 8th article from the summer of 1999, I found several newspaper stories about the Grain Valley Fair. While many readers may not remember the fair that year, others may recall all of the activity in our them small town on September 10, 11, & 12, 25 years ago.

In 1998, the Fair Board approached the Chamber of Commerce to discuss making the Fair a joint effort. Volunteers began work on planning a Fair that was bigger and better than ever. Their work resulted in a new location on the old high school football field on the northeast corner of Armstrong Park. (At that time, the “new” Community Center and City Hall was beginning construction.)

The location provided plenty of parking and visibility from I-70. Nilesh Patel, the 1999 president of the Chamber was quoted as saying, “…the new location will hopefully bring a new beginning to the fair. We’re really excited to be bringing it back to the downtown area.”

Twenty-five years ago, the Fair included a Battle of the Bands on Friday evening, a parade on Saturday morning, and bands in the beer garden on Friday and Saturday nights. The city also agreed to work with the East Kansas City Airport to include Airport Appreciation Day; an open house with vendors, exhibits of various aircraft and a fly-in on Saturday morning.

The third event took place that weekend at the “sand drags,” previously known as the Grain Valley Fair Grounds.  It was a motorcycle event titled Rally in the Valley. The event drew over 1,500 people to see the tire pull, donut race and barrel races.  East Kansas City Airport provided a shuttle service between the various Fair Daze activities.

There were at least ten articles in the newspapers leading up to the big event. While the planners were excited to bring all of activities to town, there was also concern for safety issues. Twenty-five years ago the population was about half of today’s number. But the police force was very small.  The were still working out of the old city hall on Front Street (now Valley Coffee). As I recall, backup assistance was sought from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Patrol and off-duty officers were hired to patrol the big event. I’m happy to report, from the safety standpoint, it all went off without a hitch.

The Grain Valley Fair is only three weeks away.  The main events include the parade and fair, but the attendance has undoubtably doubled.  After all, in these past 25 years, the town has nearly doubled in population, the school has more than tripled in population, and the enthusiasm for all things Grain Valley had surely quadrupled!                                                                                                                                                                                 

Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society