I want (cotton) candy: Anderson County Fair opens Monday, continues through Saturday
The Anderson County Fair gets underway Monday and continues through Saturday with entertainment each night, amusement park rides, and carnival games and food.
Gates to the annual fair, billed as "The Best Six Days of Summer," open each night at 5 p.m. with the amusement park rides starting at 6 p.m. and contests and concerts later. You can see the full schedule of events and more information at andersoncountyfairtn.com. The fair is located at the fairgrounds at 218 Nave St. off Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.
The cost
If you're paying attention to your wallet, know that getting into the fair, which includes the parking fee, is $5 for each person, each night. You'll need to have cash. Children 6 and under get in free. But thanks to sponsors, every night except Friday, kids $15 and under will get in free.
You can also pay $20 for a season ticket to get in and park each night of the fair. Pay for a $20 armband to ride as many rides as you want.
Entertainment
The Fairest of the Fair pageants - princess, junior and seniors - begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the pavilion for the contestants, ages 10 to 20. The Tiny Miss pageant for the 4- to 9-year-olds starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Music is scheduled each night from 7 to 10 p.m. in the entertainment tent. The performers:
Monday, Sleepy-Eyed John Band, performs bluegrass music and cloggers
Tuesday, C-Town Music, disc jockey entertainment
Wednesday, Kitty Wampus Band plays classic rock, blues, rhythm and blues, country and dance music
Thursday, 110 in the Shade Band, performs funk, soul, Motown, and rhythm and blues.
Friday, Jay Eric Band, a cover band that performs Motown and rock from the 1960s through today
Saturday, The Chillbillies, a party band.
Truck pulls start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday with people invited to enter their trucks, ranging from two-wheel drive trucks to "hot rod tractors" for cash prices going up to $1,500.
And what would a county fair be without farm animal contests and shows, 4-H exhibits and demonstrations, and a petting zoo. They'll be at the Anderson County Fair, as well.
Cash giveaways are also scheduled.
'Farmer For a Day'
Children ages 8 and under can go to the "Farmer For a Day" display and be given the opportunity to gather eggs, feed the pigs and gather produce.
"Children will learn where some of our food comes from and how important the farmer is to us," the fair website states. The display is at the livestock barn each night.
Senior Citizens Day is Wednesday
All Anderson County senior citizens, 60 or older, will be admitted free to the fair from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Entertainment and contests will be at the Agricultural Pavilion beginning at 11:30 a.m. and free ice cream will be available at 1:30 p.m.
Contests will focus on those Anderson County seniors wearing the Best Decorated Hat, men having the knobbiest knees, and for jig dancing and hog calling. That'll be followed by recognition for couples who have been married the longest, the woman having the most children, newlyweds, couples present who have 50-year marriages, and the oldest man and woman.
The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.
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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Anderson County Fair opens Monday, continues through Saturday
