By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
As the Barton County Fair gears up for its 34th annual event at the Expo Complex in Great Bend this week, the City of Great Bend is considering a budget increase for the fair. Last week, the City Council held a work session to discuss outside agency requests for the 2026 budget.
Great Bend allocated $5,000 to the Barton County Fair this year. The Fair Association Board requested $15,000 for the 2026 budget.
Councilmember Gary Parr also serves on the Fair Board and said the carnival typically brings in their fairgoers, more so than the paid concerts.
"You'll have the same band that's playing in Wichita that people will pay $100," said Parr. "People won't pay $10 out here. I've seen it so many times. I don't think the Fair is orientated around so much the live entertainment as it is the kids and the community...because of the carnival, all the agriculture and 4-H they do out there."
With no action taken at a work session, the City Council was in agreement to fund the Barton County Fair $10,000 in the upcoming budget.