Montgomery County Fair officials made changes in the entertainment schedule this year, giving attendees an opportunity to see a wide variety of musical acts.

The fair will not hold a traditional concert like in the past, but will have two performances each night at the Beer Tent Stage beginning on July 21. The fair will start on July 20.

“We’re excited to have two stages at the beer tent,” Fair Secretary Chasity Lichtenberg said. “There will be a smaller stage inside the tent for early evening performances while it’s still hot out, and then we’ll transition to a larger outdoor stage later in the night. This setup allows us to keep live music going all night, every night.”

Lichtenberg said the fair is not holding a traditional concert this year because it just got too expensive.

“We understand that the community really enjoys and wants to see a traditional concert at the fair,” she said. “That’s something we’ve taken seriously in our discussions. However, after continuing to evaluate the costs and overall sustainability, we’ve had to recognize that, at this point, the only feasible way for us to continue offering live music is by featuring bands rather than hosting a full-scale concert. This approach allows us to still provide quality entertainment while staying within a responsible budget.”

The secretary said it costs thousands of dollars to book a nationally recognized artist. There are also fees on staging, sound and lighting.

“When you factor everything in, the total investment can quickly exceed what a county fair can reasonably sustain without significantly increasing ticket prices or taking on financial risk,” Lichtenberg said.

Last year, Jordan Isakson and Wade Bowen were the concert performers at the Grandstands on the final day of the fair. Mac Watts, Kaylee Green, Kaleb Austin also performed there in 2024.

“Last year’s concert featuring Jordan Isakson and Wade Bowen was a good show and those who attended really enjoyed it,” Lichtenberg said. “However, overall attendance did not reach the level needed to offset the full cost of hosting a large-scale concert, which played a role in re-evaluating that format moving forward.”

Lichtenberg said the Grandstands will hold events during this year’s fair event even though no concert will be held there.

“This includes the garden tractor pull, bump and jam racing, the return of the popular dirt drags, as well as our always popular Truck and Tractor Pull and Demo Derby,” she said. “Over in the lower arena, we’re excited to continue offering inflatables, the fast-paced go-kart racing, and bring back the highly requested two-night rodeo. This variety allows us to offer something for everyone and keep fairgoers engaged all week long.”

Mick Scott, Molly Lovette, Biscuits and Gravy and Well Hungarians are among the musical acts that will be performing at the beer tent, which is located north of the Merchants Building. They’re all from the St. Louis area.

Last year, Scott, Jordan Isakson, Twice Baked, SoulRoot and Kricket Alley performed at the beer tent.

“The beer tent stage has consistently been one of the well-attended and high-energy areas of the fair in recent years,” Lichtenberg said. “Acts like Mickey Scott, Jordan Isakson, Twice Baked, SoulRoot and Kricket Alley drew strong crowds throughout the week, creating a lively atmosphere each night. Because there’s no additional ticket required, it gives fairgoers a chance to enjoy live music in a more casual and accessible setting, which has proven to be very popular.”