Sawyer Brown kicks off fair

In this 2015 SR file photo, Blake McLean, 17, of Post Falls leads his heifer out of the ring after winning the overall champion breeding beef ribbon at the 2015 North Idaho Fair. (Jesse Tinsley/SR file photo)

If the mix of entertainment seems eclectic at the North Idaho State Fair next week, that’s no accident. Fair organizers went looking for attractions representing different corners of the globe to fit the theme, “The World of Fun.”

And so, there will be kangaroos from Australia, acrobats from Africa and lumberjacks from exotic Canada. A European-style marionette theater will appeal to younger children, and a pair of circus aerialists will create a Cirque du Soleil-like vibe under the big top.

And representing the good ol’ USA will be country band Sawyer Brown in a free concert ending with fireworks on opening night, plus four days of rodeo action and the rowdy demolition derby to cap off the five-day run at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d’Alene.

“I’m excited to offer our community something that is a fun grouping of various cultures in one place,” said Alexcia Jordan, assistant general manager of the fairgrounds. “I think these are things that some of us may never get to take our kids to see, and here we’re trying to bring it to our little backyard here in North Idaho.”

With general admission Wednesday, fans can see headline act Sawyer Brown from 7-9 p.m. in the main arena. The band has put out 23 albums, and its top hits include “Step That Step,” “Some Girls Do” and “Thank God for You.”

“We’ve gotten so much good feedback on people excited to see Sawyer Brown,” Jordan said.

Devon Wade Band from Sandpoint will open the show. More here (subscription).