FARMVILLE – The annual Five-County Fair returns to September this fall, back in its familiar saddle again.

The five-day fair runs from September 18-22, following last year's October schedule.

“We've gone back to September, hoping that it will be a little warmer,” said fair manager, Auburn Estes, “and maybe we'll miss the rain. I hope. We're only going to do five days again this year, that is with the carnival.”

But activity begins on September 15 and 16, a Saturday and Sunday, when fair volunteers will be helping folks bring in their exhibits. The beef cattle show will be on the 17th at 7 p.m. “And we'll bring in flowers and baked goods on that day,” Estes said, “and the Virginia Egg Council is sponsoring a deviled egg contest and we'll have that on Monday the 17th.

“So we're going to be quite busy before the carnival starts…on Tuesday the 18th,” Estes said.

Fair highlights include:

Professional wrestling, starring WCW star The Stro on Friday, September 21 at 8 p.m. in the Varner Building.

A demolition derby open to area residents on Saturday, September 22 at 2 p.m. For entry forms call 434-547-8817.

Animal exhibits and shows for goats, swine, cattle.

Beauty contests galore.

Craft exhibits by the dozens.

Food, of course.

And, naturally, rides brought and operated by Cole Shows Amusement.

Plus the ubiquitous “more.”

“Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll have a good year,” Estes said.

Of the five-day run, rather than eight or nine days, Estes observed, “if the weather cooperates it is actually better in five days.”

More activities packed into fun-filled fewer days.

“But if the weather doesn't cooperate, then the nine days was better,” he said, the added days increasing the odds of more days with fair weather for the fair. “So you've got advantages and disadvantages both ways but I think the five days is working out real well.

Here are some of the daily festivities:

Tuesday, September 18th: Cole Shows Amusement will open the fair at 4 p.m., weather permitting. Petite Miss, Little Miss and Junior Miss Pageants begin at 7 p.m. in the Varner Building. There is free admission for students until 7 p.m. with Fair School Tickets and Home School students can get those tickets at the admission gate.

Wednesday, September 19th: Rides start at 4 p.m., weather permitting. The Teen Miss and Miss Five County Fair Pageants begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Varner Building. The swine show is at 5 p.m., with sheep and goats getting their moment at 6 p.m. There is free admission for students with the appropriate tickets (see Tuesday).

Thursday, September 20th: Rides start at 6 p.m., weather permitting. Dairy entries are processed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Youth Dairy Show is at 4 p.m. in the Varner Building. There is free admission for college students with a photo I.D. from the college.

Friday, September 21st: The rides start at 6 p.m., weather permitting. The professional wrestling event begins at 8 p.m. in the Varner Building. It is also Senior Citizen Day, with a $2 admission for those 60 and over.

Saturday, September 22nd: The rides on this, the final day of the fair, begin at 4 p.m., weather permitting. The demolition derby begins at 2 p.m.. The Longwood Company Belly Dancers will perform at 7 p.m. in the Varner Building. The 50/50 drawing will be held at 11 p.m.