MIDDLEBOURNE - The Tyler County Fair will celebrate five decades of family fun at the fairgrounds in Middlebourne next week.
The 50th annual event will open at 8 a.m. Monday with exhibits accepted until noon. Opening ceremonies are 5 p.m. with the Silver Knights Marching Band providing entertainment.
Fair pageants will begin at 7 p.m. with the prince and princess contest, followed by the junior miss and queen's pageants.
Track events for opening day include ATV drag racing. Registration begins at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. There is no charge for grandstand admission. Pit admission is $10 per person.
Other Monday events include a baked goods sale at 6 p.m.
Tuesday is youth day at the fair, with kids admitted free until noon. Child friendly events include youth bicycle races, games, and a pedal pull contest. The fun begins at 10 a.m.
Other events include a pet show is slated for 3 p.m., poultry and rabbit judging at 5:30 p.m., a purebred swine show at 6 p.m., and market hogs at 6:30 p.m.
Track events begin at 7 p.m., with mod lights, mini wedges and hot mods providing thrills at the speedway. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. with the Texaco Country Showdown. Billed as America's largest country music talent search, the competition is open to vocal or instrumental performers, individuals, or groups of up to seven members who have not performed on a record listed in the national record charts of Billboard, Radio and Records, or The Gavin Report within 18 months preceding local competition.
The entry fee is $20 and all contestants must begin their competition by performing at showdowns produced by participating country music radio stations.
Wednesday is "ladies' day." Until noon, all women will be admitted free.
The day's activities will begin at 9 a.m. in the Log Building with a quilt show. Other theme day activities will begin at 11 a.m. Other activities include Bingo from 2-7 p.m., beef and dairy judging at 3 p.m., a feeder calf show at 6 p.m., pie sale at 6:45 p.m., market steer show at 7 p.m. and karaoke at 8 p.m.
Musical entertainment is slated for 7:30 p.m., with the Al Spencer Band. Country music singer James Wesley will perform on the main stage at 9 p.m.
Additional Wednesday events scheduled include a feeder calf show at 6 p.m., a pie sale at 6:45 p.m., and a market steer show at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, the Tyler County Belle Pageant will be held at 1 p.m. and will highlight the afternoon events. Senior citizens will be admitted free until 2 p.m.
A demolitions derby will be held in the track area at 7:30 p.m. Market lamb and sheep judging is set for 6 p.m. in the barn.
Marty Raybon will perform at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the mainstage. The Davisson Brothers will entertain fairgoers at 9 p.m.
On Friday, the Tyler County Fair has been designated as Mountaineer Day with themed activities planned throughout the day.
The hog call and liar's contests will be held at 11 a.m., followed by the nail-driving contest at 11:30 a.m. and the hay baling contest at 12 p.m.
Truck and tractor pulls will begin at 7 p.m. at the track. Weigh-in for the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. In the barn area, the market steer, hog, lamb and rabbit sale will be held at 7 p.m.
Main stage action will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Chris Higbee.
Mark Vinsik, Jay McKnight, Larry Shotter, Les Philburn, Nick Strasser and Troy Williams join Higbee on stage.
The LoCash Cowboys will follow at 9 p.m.
Saturday, the day of the fair, will begin with the Truck Driver's Rodeo at 10 a.m. Registration for the event will be held from 8-10 a.m.
The annual mud bog is set for noon, with registration at the mud-pit at 10 a.m.
Other Saturday activities include an archery contest at 10 a.m., a horseshoe pitching contest at 4 p.m., and a pony pull at 5 p.m.
Mainstage entertainment will start at 10 a.m. with a talent show. Three divisions will be showcased.
The evening's musical entertainment will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Zach Paxton and John Pardndon, followed by headliner Chris Cagle at 9 p.m.
The fair will close with a grand fireworks display immediately following the concert.
Daily attractions include karaoke, daily performances by Magician Mario Manzini and the Great Lakes Timber Show, arts and crafts vendors, Bingo, carnival rides, commercial exhibits, a flea market, flower show, 4-H exhibits, horticulture displays, livestock exhibits, photography exhibits, poultry and rabbit exhibits .
Admission to the Tyler County Fair is $6 a person Monday through Thursday; $7 a person Friday and Saturday. Admission includes carnival rides. Season memberships are available and must be purchased before midnight on Sunday, Aug. 5.
Camping is available the week of the fair for $50.
