FARMVILLE – The Five County Fair opens today (Friday) at 4 p.m. with Car Load Night, which sees a $30 per vehicle admission fee no matter how many people are in the vehicle.

“It could be a mini van or a regular passenger car,” fair general manager Auburn Estes enthused.

Estes said the fair's new carnival suggested Car Load Night to attract big crowds the first night and let the fair speak for itself.

“We feel like that they (the public) will like what they see and come back,” Estes said. “I'm expecting big things.”

Rides begin Friday at 6 p.m.

The fair's new dates-Sept. 24 through October 2-will feature a mixture of new highlights and old favorites.

This Saturday will feature a wrestling event, with the fair's rides starting at 3 p.m. and the rides will be running each day of the fair.

The rides will be offered by the new carnival Estes is so happy to offer. In fact, the fair switched from its normal Friday-after-Labor Day opening just to accommodate the new carnival.

“We've gone out and signed a first class carnival and they could not come on our original dates so we changed the date to accommodate them,” Estes explained.

The carnival has played at the Peanut Festival in Suffolk. “I went to Suffolk last year and looked. It is a very fine-looking show. It's excellent,” Estes said.

Sunday features the popular Demolition Derby at 2 p.m.

On Monday, highlights include the Junior Miss, Teen Miss and Miss Five County Fair Pageants, beginning at 7 p.m.

Tuesday's features will see a magic show and balloon sculptures, along with the youth dairy show.

On Wednesday, there will be free admission for school children until 7 p.m. with a fair school ticket. Home schooled children can get a ticket at the gate. Swine, sheep and goats will be judged that afternoon.

Thursday will see the Petite Miss and Little Miss Five County Fair Pageants.

Next Friday features the Talent Exposition at 7 p.m. and it is also Senior Citizens Day, with those 60 and over getting in free.

Next Saturday, the fair's farewell, will see the Horse Show featured.

But there are many events and features, along with the rides and games, every day.

And there is a circus, too.

“I think this should be best fair we've had in years here in Farmville,” Estes said. “I am really looking forward to it.”

Look no more.

It's here.