The 1920 Ionia Free Fair

The 1920 fair was held August 17-20, and the interest in every area was increasing.  Committees had been formed to build up the livestock exhibits where interest had peaked.  Harold Bradly and Harry Geumund were now in charge of the growing auto show.  Fifty cars were entered long before the start of the 1920 fair.
The Great Patterson Shows were obtained for the midway, and they would feature a new ride, the "Whirlpool Rapids".  Grandstand acts scheduled included Walter Stanton as the Giant Rooster, Charles Gaylor as the Giant Frogman, the Delmore Trio, the Flying Lavans, and the Original Bernards.

The 1919 Ionia Free Fair, a Celebration of Peacetime

The 1919 fair was the one everyone had been waiting for.  The war was over and Ionia was going all out to honor the soldiers and to give the whole state an opportunity to celebrate.  The four day event opened on August 12 with a Victory Day observance, a real welcome home to men in the service. Camp Custer sent a detachment of 667 men to Ionia to take part and they camped on the river bank. Sgt. Maxwell Smith, Ionia war hero, was honored at the ceremonies, about 1000 veterans were entertained during the event.  The midway was provided by C.A. Wortham, "The World's Best Shows".  It featured a three-ring circus, Whale Oil Gus, Comedian Bluey Bluey, and an automatically operated submarine.
A new $15,000 grandstand, seating 2000 people, had been built by Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company.  Some of the acts performing in the  new facility included Canada's great Kiltie Band, and Legare and his marvelous Spiral Tower.
Peacetime brought airplane rides back to the fair.  Manager Fred Chapman was the first to ride in the Curtis plane with pilot Young.
In 1919 the greatest show of cattle in the history of the event was presented.  It included entries from the herds of Jay Harwood, Glenn Sprague, Westbrook Bros., Fred Brickley, and T.I. Martin Jr.

1918 Ionia Free Fair

In 1918 the fair was held August 14-17.  Due to the war the department of defense had issued a ban on airplane flights and air shows.  A new carnival was brought in and it was one of the largest in the country.
The child welfare movement in Ionia County arranged to weigh all children at the grounds under a certain age.
Some of the midway shows included, Polly Brothers' Big Water Show, featuring seven diving girls.  Terry Tesky's Wild West Show; the Rundroof Submarine Show, and "Over the Top", showing trench life existing in the western front.  Miss Brown and Miss Clark made balloon ascensions.