It’s fair games in Caroline County

The Caroline County Agricultural Fair kicks off Wednesday with four days of food, cute animals and family fun.

BY PORTSIA SMITH

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

There may be some confusion about whether there will be a state fair this year, but there will be a county fair in Caroline County next week.

The four-day Caroline County Agricultural Fair will be held Wednesday, July 11, through Saturday, July 14.

Last year, nearly 7,500 people attended the fair, which will be held at its 40-acre site off U.S. 1 in Ruther Glen, in front of the Virginia Sports Complex.

New attractions this year include some family-friendly fun for everyone.

There will be camel rides, exotic animals and mechanical bull riding, said deputy fair manager Herbert Tate.

There will also be new contests, such as “duct tape magic,” where contestants will compete to make the best clothing or accessories out of the sticky tape. A table-setting contest will see who has the best dining etiquette,  and the “tasty little devils” contest will give judges a crack at deciding who makes the best deviled eggs.

Returning favorites to the fair will be the petting zoo, racing pigs, hay rides, corn mazes, face painting, community exhibits and a dunking booth.

Some of the traditional contests are corn shucking, hog calling, watermelon and pie eating, tractor pulling and rooster crowing.

There will also be food competitions, such as the great zucchini, Mr. Potato Head, cake, cookie and grape jelly contests. Yum!

The popular “Caroline Idol” will return with a performance by  Hangin’ With Stogie, which includes group member Megan Green,  the first runner-up in the 2011 “Caroline Idol” contest.

Other bands booked to play are: Cactus Jack on Thursday at 7 p.m.; Casper, a high-energy party band, on Friday, 7 p.m.; Milford Station, a bluegrass band, on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and The Embers, a beach music group, on Saturday, 7 p.m.

Midway wristbands for unlimited rides on specific days and times cost $10 if purchased by Tuesday. After Monday, the cost goes up.

The wristbands are on sale at the Caroline Visitor Center in Carmel Church and at any of the Caroline Library’s five branches.

Tate said there was no real damage done as a result of the storms.

“We were real lucky,” he said because two new pavilions are still under construction. Those buildings and a third one will be used to host outdoor events, especially with the hot weather, he said.

WANT TO GO

What: Caroline County Agricultural Fair

Where:  8332 County Fair Lane, Ruther Glen. Off U.S. 1 in front of the Virginia Sports Complex.

When:   5–10:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, through Saturday, July 14.

Cost: $5, ages 10 and younger free. Extra charge for rides.

Info:  carolinefair.com.

Portsia Smith:  540/374-5419

psmith@fredericksburg.com

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