PIKETON, Ohio — Four local businesses and organizations will cover the cost of carnival rides for children and teenagers on four separate days during this year’s Pike County Fair, the Pike County Fairgrounds said in a Facebook post.
The sponsorships, known as Free Ride Days, allow fairgoers ages 3 to 18 to receive a free ride ticket at the gate on a designated day, with the sponsor covering the cost for a set number of riders. According to a schedule released by the fairgrounds, the sponsorships break down as follows:
Adena Health will sponsor the first 500 riders after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. National Church Residences and Bristol Village will jointly sponsor the first 250 riders after 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 30. SB Group/SoftBank will sponsor the first 250 riders after 3 p.m. on Friday, July 31. Kentucky Machinery will close out the week by sponsoring the first 500 riders after 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1.
The Pike County Fairgrounds said the sponsors purchase the ride tickets in advance so they can be handed out at the gate, giving more families the chance to enjoy the fair’s carnival rides at no cost. The fairgrounds asked the community to thank the sponsors for their support.
The 2026 Pike County Fair runs from July 24 through Aug. 2 at the fairgrounds in Piketon. The fair, organized by the Pike County Agricultural Society and its Fair Board and Junior Fair Board, features livestock exhibitions, entertainment, carnival rides, live music and vendors, and relies heavily on local business sponsorships and volunteer support to operate each year.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Pike County Fairgrounds.
