The smell of cotton candy, the sound of laughs and screams of excitement, children dressed in their finest and mud-slinging and flying will soon be fill the hot July nights as the DeKalb County Fair is only a few weeks away.
As one fair ends, planning for next year event begins for the member of the DeKalb County Fair Association. They have worked diligently preparing for this year’s Grandpa Fair of the South. "DARE2FAIR...It's a Sweet Ride ‘, the theme for this year’s fair, is set for July18 - July 23. A week jam-packed full of fun for everyone, spectators will enjoy two new events this year, Mud Drag Racing on Thursday night and the Lawn Mower Derby on Friday night.
Premium books are now available at DeKalb Community Bank, Liberty State Bank, Prichard Foods, the Chamber of Commerce and DeKalb libraries and post offices. Pick up your copy today and plan for entries to be displayed at the Kenneth Sandlin Center.
All non-perishable items will be accepted July 9 from 10 a.m. until 2p.m, only, while all perishable items will be taken July 16 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. onl
The following events are schedued:
July 18th: Cattle Show at 6p.m. at the Tot Kelly barn; Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena.; Junior Fair Princess Pageant, for contestants ages 13-16, at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Fairest of the Fair Pageant, for contestants ages 17 to 20, at the Lions Club Pavilion.
July 19: The Little Mr. and Miss Pageant, for contestants ages 4-,6 at 6p.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion with a concert by The Springs to follow; Go-Cart Racing at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; and a Horse Show at 7p.m. at the Grandstand.
July 20: Little Miss Princess Pageant, for contestants ages 7-9, at 6p.m. followed by the Miss Sweetheart Pageant, for those ages 10-12, at the Lions Club Pavilion; Four Wheeler and Motorcycle Racing at 6p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena.
July 21: Senior Citizen Day activities at 9a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion; 4-H Chick Chain Show at 5p.m. at the Tot Kelly barn; Junior Goat Show at 6p.m. at the Tot Kelly barn; Baby Show at 6p.m. followed by a Vintage Fashion Show, at the Lions Club Pavilion; Mud Drag Racing at the T.C. McMillen Arena at 7p.m.
July 22: Toddler Show, for contestants 13 months to 47 months, at 6 p.m. followed by DeKalb Idol Final Competition at the Lions Club Pavilion; Super Truck and Tractor Pull at 7p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena; Demolition/Lawn Mower Derby at 7 p.m. at the grandstand.
July 23: Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at 1p.m.; Gospel singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6: p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena.
One-thousand dollars in cash will be given away each night, Monday through Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at the Lion's Club Pavilion and you must be present to win. If no one presents the winning ticket within three minutes, the money will be saved and given away on Saturday night in increments of $1,000. Your fair admission ticket is your ticket for the cash drawing.
Unlimited rides will be available each night for $18 with Wednesday night being discount ride night where arm bands will be only $14.
Gate admission to the fair is $3 per person. Children age four and younger are admitted for free. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4p.m. on Saturday. Parking is free.
Every night is T-shirt night. Wear any DeKalb County Fair T-shirt from any year and ask for your ticket to win the newest fair T-shirt during the cash giveaway. You can request tickets at the gate.
Sign up to compete in the DeKalb Idol competition Monday through Thursday backstage at the Lions Club Pavilion from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Registration fee is $10. The final competition will be July 22 following the Toddler Show at the Lion's Club Pavilion. You could win a $300 cash prize and a $100 People's Choice Award.
All pageant applications are available at the Smithville Review or by going to  HYPERLINK "http://www.studiosixlimited.com" www.studiosixlimited.com. Entry fee for the Baby and Toddler Pageants is $20 with the competition being open to residents of DeKalb, Cannon and Smith counties. Baby and Toddler applications must be mailed to the address on the application by July 15.
Entry fee for all other pageants is $25. These pageants, excluding the Fairest of the Fair, are open to residents of DeKalb, Cannon, Smith, Wilson, White, Warren and Putnam counties. Contestants participating in the Fairest of the Fair must be from DeKalb County. You may register at the Studio Six web site or on July 16 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Lions Club Pavilion at the fairground, where rehearsals will be held. Payment for the Little Miss, Little Mister, Little Miss Princess, Miss Sweetheart, Junior Fair Princess and Fairest of the Fair must be made in cash or by pay pal, via the Studio Six web site. There is no rehearsal for Baby and Toddler applicants.
For more information, call 529-FAIR.