Area fairs keep summertime fun

HUNTINGTON -- Carnival rides, funnel cakes, food and craft exhibits and livestock shows.

Ready or not, it's time for the blue ribbon event of every summer -- county fairs. There are plenty of them taking place in the Tri-State this summer.

As sure as July is hot and humid, county fairs in the region will be loading up on the food and fun and packing in the crowds. Area fairs this year will be offering many of the usual favorites, such as demolition derbies and family-friendly contests. Some will offer national-act entertainment such as Diamond Rio and Terri Clark.

Here's a look at when the area fairs are taking place and what's on their schedules.

LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIR

WHEN: July 11-18

WHERE: Lawrence County Fair Grounds, Proctorville, Ohio

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

ADMISSION: $8, additional $5 on special event nights. Weekly pass, $30. Seniors (65 and older) free with proof of age. Parking is $5. Weekly parking pass, $20.

ENTERTAINMENT: Colgate Country Showdown (July 15), Terri Clark (July 16)

WHAT ELSE: Sale of livestock, musical entertainment, rides, tractor pull, tough truck, crafts, bull riding, demolition entertainment, wrestling, lots of 4-H events and exhibits and food vendors

WEB SITE: http://lawrencecountyfair.weebly.com/fair-events.html

PUTNAM COUNTY FAIR

WHEN : July 11-18

WHERE: Ernest Page Jr. Fairgrounds, Eleanor, W.Va.

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., July 11; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., July 12; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 13-17; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., July 18

ADMISSION: $7 ages 5 and up, includes all shows and rides. Family Day (July 12) $5 per person. Senior Day (July 14) $6 (must have Mountaineer card). Season tickets are $25 and include all shows and rides.

ENTERTAINMENT: Andy Kerns, Chainsaw Carver (July 11); Randy Houser in concert (July 11); Sandy Sowell Karaoke (July 12); Van-Dells in concert (July 12); Fun Time Karaoke with Bob (July 13); Stone Road Band (July 13); the Kidd Brothers in concert (July 15); H and H Ranch and Rodeo Bull Riding (July 16); Bruce Hill and Ridge Top Grass Band (July 17); Ronnie McDowell in concert (July 18).

WHAT ELSE: 4-H exhibits, horse show, livestock shows, agriculture and home exhibits, pageants, pet show, pony pull, 10K run and 3-mile walk, truck and tractor pull, demolition derby, ATV moto cross, motorcycle moto cross, mud run, kids show, pet parade, family fun events, Buford the Bear, kid's day circus, kid's pedal pull, carnival and more.

WEB SITE: www.putnamcountyfair-wv.com

CABELL COUNTY FAIR

WHEN : July 18-25

WHERE: West Virginia Pumpkin Park, Milton

HOURS: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday

ADMISSION: $5 horse show; $3 Monday; $5 seniors ages 55 and older Tuesday-Saturday; $8 regular admission Tuesday-Saturday; $33 weekly pass; Children 5 and under free at the gate, but must purchase a $4 ticket for rides for kids. For anyone over 5 who pays to get in, the $8 general admission price does include rides.

ENTERTAINMENT: Good Times Band (7 p.m. July 22), Savannah Jack (9 p.m. July 22), Union Baptist Choir (6 p.m. July 23), the Godsmen (7:30 p.m. July 23), the Gracemen (8:30 p.m. July 23), Aaron Holley (7:45 p.m. July 24), Highway 101 (9 p.m. July 24), Mad House (5 p.m. July 25), River Town (7:30 p.m. July 25), the Legends (9 p.m. July 25).

WHAT ELSE: Livestock shows, culinary and home arts exhibits, vegetable and farm exhibits, beauty pageant, history hitting the road exhibit, petting zoo, children's pageant, moto cross, carnival, draft horse pull, demolition derby, tractor pull, mud bog, pie bake-off, egg toss, pig chase, watermelon eating contest, sack races, diaper derby, water balloon toss, fireworks and more.

WEB SITE: www.cabellcountyfair.org

WAYNE COUNTY FAIR

WHEN : July 29-Aug. 1

WHERE: Huntington Police Recreation Farm, Wayne

WHAT ELSE: Carnival, games, petting zoo, vendors, clowns, horseshoes, exhibits, food and more

WEB SITE: www.waynecountyfair-wv.com

MASON COUNTY FAIR

WHEN : Aug. 10-15

WHERE: Mason County Fair Grounds, Point Pleasant, W.Va.

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day

ADMISSION: $7 Monday-Thursday, $8 Friday-Saturday, includes all entertainment, activities and rides. Season pass, $25 -- does not include rides. Ride stamp is $5. Discount days, $5, are Wednesday and Thursday. Seniors (60 and older) get in free on Tuesday.

ENTERTAINMENT: Bo Rickard Youth In gospel music (Aug. 11), Harry Rhodes Gospel Sing (Aug. 11), Point Pleasant High School Band (Aug. 11), the Hinsons in concert (Aug. 11), Wahama High School Band (Aug. 12), Ohio River Dance (Aug. 12), Randy Houser in concert (Aug. 12), Hannan High School Band (Aug. 13), Savannah Jack in concert (Aug. 13), Point Pleasant Middle School Band (Aug. 14), Riverside Cloggers (Aug. 14), Big Bend Cloggers (Aug. 14), Adam Gregory in concert (Aug. 14), Diamond Rio in concert (Aug. 15).

WHAT ELSE: Horse show, greasy pole contest, carnival, cornhole, Mason County Fair Idol, Little Mister and Miss contests, livestock shows, ATV moto cross, beauty pageants, greasy pig catch, pet parade, egg toss, scholarship awards, antique tractor pull, banana eating contest, treasure hunt, hay bail toss, demolition derby, potato sack races, kids show, pie eating contest, paper airplane toss, Mark Wood Fun Show, seed spitting contest, pretty baby contest, tractor and truck pulls, auction for kid's games, scavenger hunt, livestock sale, chicken catch, dash 4 cash, horseshoe pitching contest, pedal tractor pull, Showtime with L.D., arm wrestling and more.

WEB SITE: www.masoncountyfairwv.org

BOYD COUNTY FAIR

WHEN : Aug. 18-22

WHERE: Boyd County Fairgrounds, Coalton, Ky.

HOURS: Opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday

ADMISSION: $8, $7 seniors, includes all entertainment, activities and carnival rides

ENTERTAINMENT: Guitar Hero Competition (Aug. 18), OCW Wrestling (Aug. 19), Gospel music (Aug. 20), Bluegrass music featuring Melvin Goins and Bottomline (Aug. 21)

WHAT ELSE: 4-H and home economics exhibits, rodeo, crafts, vendors, carnival, inflatables, Little Mr. and Miss Farmer Costume Contest, Farm Animal exhibits, cowboy obstacle course, motorsports, demolition derby, horse show, cornhole, clown circus, goat milking and more.

WEB SITE: www.boydcountyfair.com

Jeremy McKnight/For The Herald-Dispatch

Quinton Bare from Kitts Hill, Ohio, swings during the 2008 Lawrence County Fair in Proctorville, Ohio.