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.
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