Alleghany fair will begin Saturday

The week-long Alleghany County Agricultural Fair will begin on Saturday with the demolition derby and end the following Saturday with the CarQuest Mowdown lawnmower race.

The derby will again include full-size cars and the compact crusher heat, which was also featured last year. A car that is being raffled to benefit the fairgrounds will be given away the night of the race and may be entered in the action.

"We have an action-packed week planned," said Fair Chairman April Caudill. "There should be something for everyone this year. We're pleased to have all of our events within a one week time period for the first time in recent years."

All fair grandstand events will begin at 7 p.m. and require a $5 admission, with children ages eight and under admitted free.

More food vendors will be brought in this year to help increase the number of food choices available. "We will have wide selection of food, snacks and drinks available during the entire week," said Caudill. The fair this year will feature daily midway carnival attractions from Brinkley Entertainment of Walnut Cove. The carnival will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. and continue until midnight Saturday night. Daily operating hours will be Wednesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.; Friday from 6 p.m. until midnight and Saturday from noon until midnight.

Wednesday night is kids night and will feature $10 wristbands for unlimited rides and no gate admission. The Alleghany Partnership for Children will sponsor a pre-school tent with activities and free food for young children. The fire safety smokehouse will also be on scene to help educate children on safety habits in the case of a house fire.

The petting zoo will also be returning this year and will be set up in time for kids night and will be open daily in conjunction with the carnival.

Thursday night's grandstand entertainment will feature a gospel music show, with performers Exit Up, Nave Blevins, The Soul Seekers and The Miracles.

Friday night's grandstand show is being dubbed Mountain Music Night and will feature performers The Appalachian Mountain Girls, Nave Blevins, Alleghany Moon and the Rabbit Bottom Boys.

Emcee for both music shows will be J.D. Higgins.

Saturday night's CarQuest Mowdown will feature Alleghany Mower Racing Association action at the grandstand area. Intermission events will include a toy lawnmower race for children 3 to 6 years old with T shirts and fair gift certificates awarded to the winners. As an added attraction, Mowdown T shirts will also be fired into the crowd with a mock cannon. Spectators will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite driver and the ‘hard luck award' by ballot at the fair's T shirt vending booth. The fair will pay the two winning drivers $100 each.

Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. will also be a wristband period, with unlimited rides for $10.

"Families will be able to come early, look at the lawnmowers, watch inspections and let their children ride all afternoon before the grandstand events begin," said Caudill.

Entries for the exhibition building will be accepted beginning on Monday, Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m. All entries must be turned in that day by 6 p.m.

All entries must be picked up on Aug. 30 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Those entries that are either spoiled or not picked up will be discarded.

Entry forms are available at the Alleghany County Cooperative Extension office and were also included in a recent newspaper insert. The insert also included a picture that local youths may color and bring to the fair for a chance to win a bicycle from Brinkley Entertainment.

Judging for entries will be held on Tuesday and setup of various exhibits will be conducted. The exhibits and entries may be viewed by the public from Wednesday through Saturday night. There is no charge to view exhibits.

Livestock shows, which also feature free admission, will be begin on Monday night at 6 p.m. with the horse and pony show. Tuesday night will feature the sheep and lamb show, while Wednesday will feature showmanship and market lamb shows.

Thursday night's livestock events include the beef and goat show; Friday night the Alleghany County Dairy Show will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday afternoon's livestock event will be the Northwest District Dairy Show, with a clipping contest at 2 p.m. and the show beginning at 4 p.m.

Alleghany Fair Committee personnel will be easily recognizable due to their bright yellow T shirts identifying them as fair staff. "If anyone needs assistance, look for any fair staff member and they will gladly help," said Caudill.

For more information about the fair, call the extension office at 372-5597.

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