Fayette County Fair opens tonight
The 57th annual Fayette County Fair officially opens tonight at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
The fair, which runs through Saturday, Aug. 6, showcases the best in local agriculture and offers a variety of entertainment that ranges from pig races to monster trucks to musical acts that include The Clarks, Lee Brice and Confederate Railroad.
As preparations took place on the grounds Wednesday, fair board President Bill Jackson said, “It’s organized chaos. People are moving in and setting things up. There’s always a little glitch but we take care of it.”
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at the Youth Building, where officials will give remarks and fair board members are introduced as well as the candidates for the fair queen competition.
Charlotte DeCarlo, co-chairwoman of the fair queen committee, said, “There’s 12 girls this year. I don’t remember the last year we had so many.”
The candidates will ride in cars in the firemen’s parade, which will begin at 7 p.m., and runs throughout the fairgrounds. They then head for the public portion of the fair queen competition, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Fiddlers Building.
Other first-night events include Brice, with guest Steve Smith, appearing in concert at 7:30 p.m. on the Lady Luck Stage at the Indoor Arena. The country singer’s hits include “Love Like Crazy” and “Beautiful Every Time.”
Croushore’s Championship Demolition Derby will begin at 7 p.m. in the Chevron Arena, marking the first of three demolition derbies that will take place throughout the fair.
Judging of baked goods will take place at 7 p.m. in the Home Economics Building, featuring a variety of breads, cakes, cookies and pies.
Powers Great American Midways Carnival will run from 6 to 11 p.m. today.
The “pocket flag project” will get under way at the Youth Building, where the public has an opportunity to write thank-you letters that will be sent to the troops along with small flags that they can carry in their pockets as a reminder of home. The fair would like to send 1,000 flags to servicemen and servicewomen.
The Family Area will feature Pigs Gone Wild racing pigs, the Barn Yard Petting Zoo, IGX – Interactive Game Experience and R&S Wood Carving throughout the run of the fair. Today through Sunday, BMX Donnelly and Disc-Connected K9s will appear in shows and Jerry Brown, the Monkey Man, will stroll the grounds and interact with fairgoers.
More information is available online at www.fayettefair.com.