Fair reopens after closure for bad behavior, weather

UPDATE@10:47a.m. Aug. 31

The Fair reopened at 8 a.m. this morning, according to the fairgrounds office.

The Montgomery County Fair Board shut down the fair early amid bad weather and bad behavior.

The fair was closed by 9:30 p.m. which was described as a 20-minute early shutdown by the fair board in a news release issued late Saturday night. The board said the early closure was prompted by an "incoming weather threat" as well as "minor crowd disturbances."

"The grounds were cleared to ensure the safety of everyone attending," the release stated.

Chief Deputy Rob Streck of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said the fights that broke out were minor and did not result in any injuries or charges.

"There was a very large group of -- it appeared to be teens -- there were a couple of fights, they were running from one end of the fairgrounds to another," which Streck said was agitating people.

A deputy told a News Center 7 reporter that 12 females and six males were thrown out, and that one of the males had a BB gun. He said that people were asked to leave at 9:30 p.m. after "several" fights broke out involving teens. Outside the fairgrounds, there was another fight involving teenagers.

Roads in front of the fairgrounds briefly had to be closed after large groups of people came out of the event.

Also, a group of teens tonight was shaking and smacking the News Center 7 truck arriving to the fairgrounds.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. Sunday, with buildings opening at noon and rides at 1 p.m. The grandstand feature event for Sunday is the demolition derby, which runs twice, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to the release.