Fair kicks off Wednesday

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Michelle Courchene sets up arts and crafts and home decor 4-H entries this morning to be judged at the Great Northern Fair.

Fairgoers have the chance to partake in events ranging from rides and games to rodeo, from school exhibits to 4-H livestock activities, when the Great Northern Fair gets fully under way Wednesday.

Fairgrounds manager Tim Solomon said this morning he and his crew were working to finalize everything for the fair to start.

"It actually seems to be going good today, " Solomon said, adding the weather should be good throughout the annual event.

"It sounds like its going to get a little hotter than we wanted, but it should bring them out in the evenings, " he said.

The weather, that had given people a short break from the heat this weekend and the start of the week, is expected to be hot and sunny through the fair. National Weather Service, The Weather Channel and AccuWeather.com all forecasting highs ranging from 89 degrees to 99 degrees Wednesday through Sunday.

Some activities already are ongoing — Monday started the 4-H setup, and the 4-H interview evaluations were scheduled to start this morning, with interviews of the candidates for 4-H Queen and Teen Representative at 3:30 this afternoon.

The entry for open class exhibits also started this morning and will continue until 7 p. m.

But the main events start at noon Wednesday, with concessions and the carnival scheduled to open and the first 4-H activity — the horse show — also starting then.

The grandstand entertainment kicks off Wednesday at 5 p. m., with the Junior Rodeo bringing children and youths to show off their cowboy skills.

Thursday's events include the crowning of the 4-H Queen and Teen Representative at 1 p. m., along with most fair and carnival events opening at 2 p. m.

The grandstand entertainment for both Thursday and Friday is the Northern Rodeo Association professional rodeo, kicking off in the arena at 7 each night with slack Friday morning.

Saturday has two sets of entertainment in the fairground arena, the local amateur truck pull at noon and the professional version of the event starting at 7 p. m.

Sunday an annual favorite closes out the year's grandstand entertainment with the Jaycees Demolition Derby scheduled to start at 5 p. m.

The free entertainment brings a variety of shows, with the Blond Curly Haired Magician Jeff Martin returning to the Great Northern Fair, along with Reptile Adventures and spray paint artist Matt Sorenson.

The 4-H exhibits and events are set to run throughout the fair, closing out with the annual 4-H Market Sale in the Bigger, Better Barn Sunday with presale announcements at 12:30 p. m. and the sale starting at 1 p. m.

The school and open-class exhibits also will be on display throughout the fair.

Fair events Wednesday

Noon: Carnival, food stands open, 4-H Horse Show starts.

1 p. m.: 4-H exhibit buildings open.

4 p. m.: 4-H Chuckwagon opens.

5 p. m.: Grandstand entertainment, Junior Rodeo starts; exhibit buildings close.

Midnight: Carnival closes.