The Union County Fair returns today, complete with the staple fair rides and food and carnival-style activities. The fair is set to open each weekday at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, gates will open at 1 p.m. and school-aged children can get in for free until 5 p.m., at which time general admission prices will kick back in.
Wristbands are $25 each day except for the 1 - 5 p.m. period on Saturday, when they will be $20.
Livestock shows will take place each weekday in the barn located at the fairgrounds, concluding with the Junior Livestock Sale starting at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
Home economics exhibits this year are divided into a variety of categories such as canned fruit and other canned goods, historical and educational exhibits, floriculture and much more.
For more information on the fair, myunioncountyarfair.com.
Tuesday, Sept. 19
The livestock barn will open for participants today and each weekday at 7 a.m. and, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the home economics department will be open to receive exhibits.
Home economics judging will take place on Tuesday, as will judging of poultry exhibits and beef.
The commercial building will open on Tuesday and on each weekday at 5:30 p.m., soon after the fair carnival opens and ticket sales begin at 5 p.m.
A rabbit showmanship demonstration is also set to take place on Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 20
Judging of sheep, goats and swine will take place on Wednesday for livestock show participants.
A canned food drive for the Salvation Army of El Dorado will also take place from 5 to 8 p.m.
Fairgoers can donate five canned food items to receive $2 off admission and $3 off their wristband price.
Thursday, Sept. 21
Thursday will feature more livestock-centric activities including the livestock skill-a-thon at 4 p.m. and the old timers' showmanship fundraiser at 5 p.m.
The Skill-A-Thon is a competition in which 4H youth take on the role of judges to demonstrate their knowledge of events.
The Old Timers' Show is a 4H fundraiser in which anyone aged out of 4H or FFA can be nominated to show, according to previous News-Times reporting.
Friday, Sept. 22
Livestock show activities will conclude on Friday with the junior livestock sale starting at 5:30 p.m.
The sale allows the young livestock showers, who have spent countless hours preparing and working with their animals, to participate in an auction.
The Boomer Hill Band is also scheduled to perform starting at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Saturday, Sept. 23
The fair will be a nearly all-day affair on Saturday, as school-aged kids can get in for free from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and wristbands will have a reduced $20 price tag during the same time period.
No wristbands will be sold from 5 to 6 p.m. and wristbands purchased before 6 p.m. will not be valid after 6.
Wristbands will return to their regular $25 price starting at 6.
From 1 to 3 p.m., a petting zoo will be held at the livestock barn. Horse rides led by Calvary Trail Cowboy Church will be held during the same time period and the El Dorado Service League will be on site providing temporary face tattoos.
At 7 p.m., the New Image Gospel Group is scheduled to perform.
Preparations were ongoing Monday at the Union County Fairgrounds for the annual fair, which starts today and runs through Saturday. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)