PHILIPPI — A week of music, competitions, exhibits, carnival rides and fun is set to kick off Saturday with the opening of Barbour County Fair. 

The fair will begin Saturday with the Miss Barbour County Pageant and Fair Opening at the

John Loyd Entertainment Center, beginning at 6 p.m. The pageant will feature three vying for the crown. Competitors include:

Makensi Lynn Bennett is the 18-year-old daughter of Jeremy and Brandy Bennett. 

Alyssa Moss is the 17-year-old daughter of Jessica Moss and Bryant Moss.

Taylor Paige Skidmore is the 18-year-old daughter of Jeff and Stephanie Skidmore.

On Sunday, the fair will feature the 4-H/FFA Horse Show, the registration of competitive exhibits, market animal weigh-in and registration, and vendor set-up.

On Monday, the fair will feature the annual Barbour County Fair parade, “Country Nights and Carnival Lights at the 2023 Barbour County Fair,” sponsored by the Junior Lions Club. The parade will step off at 7 p.m. There will be no carnival rides open on Monday. Carnival rides will open on Tuesday and remain open the remainder of the fair.

Always a crowd favorite, the Thomas Motorsport Demolition Derby will be spread across two nights of the fair. The vehicular destruction will begin on Tuesday with full-size stock cars, compact cars and kids’ power wheels. On Wednesday, spectators can watch modified full-size cars and stock compact cards and lawn mowers take to the open arena at the fairgrounds.

On Wednesday, the fair will host Third Graders’ Day. The special day of the fair started several years ago to get more youth involved in fair activities and give children the opportunity to visit.

The children will have a full day of activities, such as learning about the history of the Mouse Run School House, how the bees make honey with the Beekeepers, and how corn meal is ground at the grist mill. Students will also visit the horse and livestock barns and receive a goodie bag to take home.

Thomas Motorsport will also host the ATV Youth and Adult Drag Races at the fair on Thursday, Aug. 31, and Friday, Sept. 1.

The fair will feature several musical acts to keep visitors entertained. The music performances will be headlined by Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute on Saturday, Sept. 2. The band will perform Lynyrd Skynyrd’s greatest hits.

The band is made up of six seasoned musicians from the Cleveland and Nashville music scenes. The fair will also feature country acts Kameron Marlowe and Warren Zeiders. Marlow will perform Thursday, Aug. 31,  and Zeiders will take the stage Friday, Sept. 1.

The full Barbour County Fair schedule of events includes:

SATURDAY

6 p.m. Miss Barbour County Pageant – Fair Opening

John Loyd Entertainment Center

SUNDAY, AUG. 27

1 p.m. 4-H/FFA Horse Show

1 p.m.-5 p.m. Registration of Competitive Exhibits

All categories

1 p.m.-8 p.m. Market animal weigh in/registration

2 p.m. 4-H Pet Show (Livestock Barn Show Arena)

2-6 p.m. Commercial Vendor setup begins

MONDAY

NO CARNIVAL RIDES

9 a.m. Judging of Competitive Exhibits

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Commercial Vendor setup Complete

4 p.m. Commercial

Vendors Open

5 p.m. Begin Parade Lineup

7 p.m. Grand Feature Parade

“Country Nights and Carnival Lights at the

2023 Barbour County Fair” Sponsored by Junior Lions Club

TUESDAY

ADMISSION $15*

THRIFT TICKETS GOOD

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Seniors 55 & older, Admission $5*

(activities planned)

4 p.m. Commercial Vendors & Competitive Exhibits Open

4 p.m. Begin Registration for Demo Derby

6:15 p.m. Open Class Sheep & Goat Show

6 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Midway/Rides Open

7 p.m. 4-H/FFA Lamb & Goat Show & Showmanship Contest

7 p.m. Kids Power Wheels Demolition Derby

7:30 p.m. Demolition Derby-Open Arena Thomas Motorsport

WEDNESDAY

ADMISSION $15*

THRIFT TICKETS GOOD

9 a.m.-2 p.m. 3rd Graders’ Day for County 3rd Graders

4 p.m. Commercial Vendors & Competitive Exhibits Open

4-6 p.m. Registration for Lawn Mower Demo Derby

5 p.m. Begin registration for Demolition Derby

6:15 p.m. Open Class Hog Show

6 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Midway/Rides Open

6 p.m. Lawn Mower Demo Derby

7 p.m. 4-H/FFA Market Hog Show & Showmanship Contest

7:30 p.m. Demolition Derby-Open Arena

Thomas Motorsport

THURSDAY, AUG. 31  

ADMISSION $15*

THRIFT TICKETS GOOD

4 p.m. Commercial Vendors & Competitive Exhibits Open

5 p.m. Begin registration for Youth ATV Drag Races

6:15 p.m. Open Class Beef & Feeder Calf Show &

Beef Replacement Heifer Show

6 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Midway/Rides Open

7 p.m. 4-H/FFA Market Steer & Feeder Calf Show & Showmanship Contest

7 p.m. Youth ATV Drag Races

9 p.m. Nashville Recording Artist KAMERON MARLOWE

At the John Loyd

Entertainment Center

$10 & $15 Reserve seating and a limited number of

$20 Pit Tickets available

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1st

ADMISSION $15*

THRIFT TICKETS GOOD

$7* Admission for School Aged Children

10 a.m.-Noon Only

(Discount tickets allow

children to ride from

6:30-11 p.m.)

9 a.m. ADGA Sanctioned Goat Show

10 a.m. -2 p.m. Educational Day-Stations Open

throughout the grounds

Lunch provided by Kingsford Manufacturing Co

10 a.m. Commercial Vendors & Competitive Exhibits Open

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Livestock Skil-A-Thon (open to everyone)

5 p.m. Begin registration for Adult ATV Drag Races

6 p.m. Draft Horse Show

6:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Midway/Rides Open

7 p.m. Adult ATV Drag Races

9 p.m. Nashville Recording Artist WARREN ZEIDERS At the John Loyd Entertainment Center

$10 & $15 reserve seating & a limited number of $20 Pit Tickets available

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

ADMISSION $15*

THRIFT TICKETS GOOD

9 a.m. 4-H/FFA Livestock Overall Showmanship

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Jack Lucas Antique Tractor/Engine Show Registration

9 a.m. Commercial Vendors & Competitive Exhibits Open

12:30 p.m. Registration for Irish Road Bowling-Park Area

1 p.m. 4-H/FFA Horse Fitting and Showmanship Contest

1 p.m. Jack Lucas Antique Tractor/Engine Show Awards

1:30 p.m. Irish Road Bowling

3 p.m.-1 p.m. Midway/Rides Open

6 p.m. Draft Horse Pulls

7 p.m. Livestock Awards

Presentation

7:30 p.m. 4-H/FFA Market Animal Sale

9 p.m. FREEBIRD- LYNYRD SKYNYRD TRIBUTE

At the John Loyd Entertainment Center

$10 & $15 reserve seating available

11 p.m. 2023 Fair Closes