Tanks return to Morgan County Fair for one last public display

Rabbi Rob Thomas is bringing the tanks back to the Morgan County Fair on July 8 for what he says will be a final major public display, with viewing starting after noon and the main demonstration set for about 8 p.m. The fair runs July 7-12, and the July 8 program is billed as a Salute the Troops evening, putting one of Morgan County’s most unusual summer attractions back at the center of the fairgrounds.

WW2 Armor says several authentic World War II U.S. tanks and tank destroyers will be on display from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. before the historic armor operations demonstration later that night. Thomas has said he is closing down the public side of the equipment, wants to focus on family and local projects, including downtown work, and plans to move the wheeled vehicles to Jacksonville for storage, using them only occasionally in parades.

That shift makes the fair appearance feel like both a spectacle and a sendoff. Thomas has said he loves showing off the tanks and other vehicles on the nation’s 250th birthday, and he has made clear he is taking the display up a level this year. He has also been tight-lipped about any additions that might appear on July 8, adding to the anticipation for fairgoers who have followed the event in past years.

The display is also tied to another Jacksonville tradition. Rob and Lauren Thomas have been named parade marshals for the Rotary Club of Jacksonville’s Fourth of July parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Morgan County Fairgrounds and travel down West State Street and around Central Park. Rotary’s 2026 theme is Celebrating Freedom, Service and Impact, linking the holiday parade to the fairgrounds and the week’s broader civic calendar.

Safety has been part of the story before. Local coverage from last year said fair officials warned residents not to call 911 when they heard the sounds of the tank demonstration, since the noise was part of the show and not an emergency. That theatrical handling helped turn the display into a crowd-pleaser, and local summaries said last year’s show drew strong attention despite heavy rain.

For the fair, the return of the tanks is more than a novelty. Morgan County Fair is one of the county’s biggest summer institutions, and a headline attraction like this can help drive attendance, stir local buzz and bring extra visitors through Jacksonville during a packed holiday week.