The Alleghany Fair is underway By COBY LaRUE Staff With events ranging from a gospel music show to a lawnmower race and a demolition derby, the Alleghany County Fair began this week at the Carlisle Higgins Agricultural Fairgrounds in Sparta. In one of the feature performances of the fair, The Lonesome River band will be performing on Friday night at 8 p.m. Earlier that same night, the American Heritage Dancers will perform at 7 p.m. Events for children were held Tuesday night by the Alleghany Partnership for Children, while Dune Buggy the clown headed up several children's activities at the fair this year. The clown gives "Peanut Pedal Power Tractor Pulls" for children of all ages. He will be performing the pedal pulls at 6 p.m. each night and will also be roving around the fair during other events. Other fair events include an ATV rodeo on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m., a gospel music show on Thursday with Michael Combs and the Brinegar Family and the second-annual CarQuest Mowdown lawnmower race on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. The demolition derby will be held on Sept. 8.

Sprucing it up — Dorothy Fender of Sparta puts the finishing touches on her flower arrangement in the exhibition building. The building is being filled with crafts, home canned foods, home grown fruits and vegetables and other locally-produced items.

As for the CarQuest Mowdown, this year's event features more mowers than before — with the majority of racers coming from this county. As of Tuesday, 10 racers had signed up for the super-fast modified division alone and more were expected prior to the race on Saturday.

Returning from last year's event were Larry McCann and Dickie McKnight. McCann was last year's winner.

Agricultural events are planned daily at the livestock barn and grandstand. They include a model horse and pony show on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at the grandstand; a sheep and lamb show at the livestock barn on Aug. 29; a goat and beef show on Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the livestock barn; and the Alleghany County Open Dairy Show on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. Saturday's livestock events include a rabbit show at 10 a.m. at the livestock barn; the Northwest Regional Clipping Contest at 2 p.m. and the Northwest District Dairy Show at 4 p.m.

General admission to the fair is $5 per person with children under six admitted free. Thursday will feature unlimited rides for $10. The midway will feature ‘air ball' rides, a climbing wall, a mechanical bull and other attractions.With events ranging from a gospel music show to a lawnmower race and a demolition derby, the Alleghany County Fair began this week at the Carlisle Higgins Agricultural Fairgrounds in Sparta.

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