Michigan State Fair features clowns, logrollers and ample transportation

NOVI — The annual Michigan State Fair rolls into the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Aug. 29 through Sept. 2, and with it a logrolling show and several familiar attractions, including the Shrine Circus.

The Great Lakes Timber Show, which originated in Escanaba in the early 1980s, will make a return to the Michigan State Fair for the first time since the fair moved to Novi. The show includes chopping and sawing wood, ax throwing and logrolling. They also try to get the audience to participate in the activities.

“We’ll be there doing some chopping and sawing and ax throwing and logrolling, and probably some audience participation,” said Bruce Belanger, founder of The Great Lakes Timber Show. “It’s more entertainment than anything. We try to exaggerate the way we fall in, and people like seeing someone fall in the drink, and we’re going to make sure that they’re happy with the way we fall in. We kind of make a big splash, and believe me I can make a big splash.”

The show also incorporates history into the act. They will speak of the history of logging and ax throwing. Belanger said they will talk about how loggers used to mark the trees with axes, which according to the story, is how ax throwing came into being. He said the audience will also learn how men used to roll the logs down the river into holding ponds.

They also demonstrate block chopping and chainsaw carving. He said in two to three minutes they will carve up six to eight little chairs with the chainsaw and give them to kids in the audience or somebody who is celebrating a special occasion.

The timber show will also feature some comedy with a race between a crosscut saw and a chainsaw, where they each try to overpower the other.

“It’s one ridiculous thing after another,” Belanger said with a laugh.

The Shrine Circus will once again return to entertain children of all ages and help generate funds to support sick children in the area.

Along with the Shriners Children’s Fund, the fair donates funds to several charities each year. Last year alone the fair donated more than $900,000 to various charities.

“Being able to give back to the community is always the highlight and main goal of the Michigan State Fair,” said McKenzie Bowman, co-owner of the Showplace, who runs the fair.

Bowman said they try to maintain as many of the old traditions from the original state fair as possible, including the butter cow. The fair will also feature a midway full of rides and games, the return of many traditional acts, lots of vendors and of course livestock.

Bowman said that people should definitely make sure to see the livestock at the fair. She said the livestock section offers a great deal of educational opportunities to learn not only about livestock but agriculture as well.

“I love everything about the state fair,” said Craig Stingleman, a Shriner who sits on the state fair executive board. “I’ve been doing this 13 years and I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”

Since the fair came to Novi 12 years ago, a lack of public transportation has been a deterrent for some who had utilized public transit to get to the old State Fairgrounds in Detroit.  In 2022, attendees told the Novi Note that the site was not easily accessible to all, as public transit at the time left them miles short of the Showplace.

This year there will be ample public transportation for those wanting to get to the event, as the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation has routes to Novi with a stop at the Suburban Collection Showplace.

“SMART is proud to begin service to the Michigan State Fair’s Novi location for the first time this coming August and September,” said Katie Lauderbaugh, digital marketing coordinator for SMART Services. “Fair attendees can board at any marked SMART stop as far west as Wixom Road and as far east as the Meijer at Lahser and McNichols in northwest Detroit. The Suburban Collection Showcase has bus stops at the west and east driveway entrances off Grand River, so service will be much more available than in years prior when we were restricted to ending at Grand River and Haggerty.”

There will also be additional parking spaces available this year as they will be utilizing a barn on the property for the west exterior box offices. Bowman said this will take the place of the temporary ticket offices from years past. Shuttles will also be running continuously through the parking lots so that fairgoers can quickly and easily get from the parking lot to the event.

The fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. The box office will close one hour before the event each day. For more information on the fair or to purchase tickets, go to michiganstatefairllc.com.