Highlands County Fair starts Friday

There will be plenty to do this weekend when the 73rd Highlands County Fair opens starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at Firemen's Field, in Sebring.

The fair will continue each day, with the last day on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The midway will come alive with carnival lights, rides, arts, crafts, food vendors and side shows, clowns, concerts, and the pavilions will house livestock displays, exhibitions and auctions galore.

Admission is $6. Children 10 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult.

If the grounds seem unfamiliar, the midway is set up a little differently this year, like a large oval, due to the construction of the convention center. It will be back to normal next year.

Discount nights

There are a few new features, including some discounted ticket nights, said Skip Adams, the Highland County Fair Association's president.

"We're going to have Red Hat Society Day," he said. "They're going to have their own things going on, contests for the biggest hat, most flamboyant."

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Red Hatters will get a $3 admission. That Tuesday is also Coca-Cola Day, when students get free admission from 5 to 7 p.m., with an empty Coke can.

Sunday, Jan. 24, seniors 55 and older will be admitted for $3, with an ID.

Wednesday, Jan. 27 will be Military Veterans Day. Anyone with a military ID will be admitted for half price.

Entertainment

The NoJoe's Clown Circus is new, said Adams.

NoJoe's Clowns will perform each day.

"He has his own stage set up right near the hypnotist's (Mark Yuzik) stage," said Adams.

(See the schedule in last Sunday's Highlands Today for show times.)

Also new this year is a musical act, "Fiddlin Jessy" Daumen, said Adams.

The California Toe Jam Band will entertain at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., at the expo stage, on Saturday, Jan. 30 only.

Cindy's Girl Scout Cookie Eating Contest will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, at the Highlands Today stage. There will be a baking contest from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Expo Pavilion.

Ticket to Ride

Crews were busy Wednesday setting up about 30 rides for kids of all ages from the Rockin' Tug boat to Pharaoh's Fury.

"It takes four tractor trailers to bring in that ferris wheel," said Richard McClain, a member of the fair association board who toured the grounds Wednesday in his golf cart. The ferris wheel is nearly 100 feet high.

"We have some nice rides for the kids," he said, referring to the tug boat, the merry-go-round and a Bumble Bee ride. There is also a Fun Fun Fun Slide and a small roller coaster.

McClain has been a part of the fair association so long he even has his own street named after him at the fairgrounds South Commerce Avenue entrance.

At the Kenilworth Boulevard side of the fair are the Scooter bumper cars.

Even for the not-so-faint hearted the Fire Ball ride looks a bit intimidating, as does a ride called Freak-Out.

Barrington Chandler, a supervisor and transportation specialist with Reithoffer Shows, said he expects to have everything set up by Wednesday and ready for inspection.

It's a lot of work to set up the rides, getting everything level, and lined up properly.

The Florida Department of Agriculture is charged with inspecting carnival rides.

"These rides are inspected; every ride, every time it is moved," said McClain.

Inspectors check every ride, every weld and every stress point. If a ride has had a problem, the inspectors know about it.

If an inspector finds a problem the ride is red-tagged until it is repaired and once it is repaired it is inspected again.

"When it's right it is issued a certificate," said McClain.

Get your tickets to ride, which can be purchased individually, or for those who want unlimited rides, buy a $17 armband and ride until closing.

Armbands are good for one fair-day only.

Pageants

The week will kick off with three nights of pageants for Jr. Miss Highlands County, Miss Highlands County and Little Miss Highlands County.

At 7 p.m. Friday, 2009 Jr. Miss Highlands County Celeste Breylinger will relinquish her crown to her successor, whoever that fortunate young woman may be.

The Junior Miss has 21 contestants ages 12 to 15 this year, said Christy Spiegel, the pageant organizer.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, 2009 Miss Highlands County Stephany Johnson will step down as a crowd gathers to watch one of 14 lovely contestants ages 16 to 19, vie to become the 2010 pageant winner.

Monday at 7 p.m., 2009 Little Miss Highlands County Nala Price will pass her crown to the newest little miss. The 14 Little Miss contestants are from ages 8 to 11.

These three events will be held in the expo pavilion.

Fair weather ahead

It looks as if the weather will be kind to fairgoers for at least the first three days of the event, with comfortable days and nights in the forecast.

The National Weather Service in Ruskin predicts mostly clear skies and a 20 percent chance of showers with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-50s for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fair times are: Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. closing; Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 2 p.m. to midnight; and Sunday, Jan. 24, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.