MORGANTOWN — Bust out your funnel cake pants.
It’s fair week.
Parade marshal Jeremy Blizard, president of the West Virginia chapter of the national nonprofit Free Bikes 4 Kidz, will herald in a week of festivities as he leads the 2023 Monongalia County Fair Parade down High Street at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
From there, the excitement shifts out to Mylan Park. Fair gates open at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The all-inclusive $10 entry fee ($15 on Saturday), covers parking, access to carnival rides, all exhibits, live entertainment and motorsport events (pit passes not included). Fair entry is cash only.
While there have been some logistical challenges due to Mylan Park’s changing layout, the fair will be bigger than the 2022 edition — its first year back after a two-year COVID layoff.
Monongalia County Fair Board President Kathy Eichensehr said the number of carnival rides and food vendors have more than doubled since last summer.
Stunt dogs, acrobats, quilts, robotics, beekeeping, coke oven dirt drags, demolition derbies and a whole barnload of animals are just some of the exhibits and scheduled events on offer.
Eichensehr said fairgoers may notice a homespun feel to the fair in keeping with this year’s “Homegrown & Handmade” theme.
Among the various artisans will be a blacksmith, wood carvers and, for the first time ever, a farmer’s market to be held Thursday. Registration for market vendors will remain open through Wednesday.
And while all that is well and good, you can’t really have a fair without a queen.
Seven contestants will vie for the Miss Monongalia County Fair Queen title at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Hazel & JW Ruby Community Center.
The winner will represent Monongalia County in the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant for the honor of presiding over the West Virginia State Fair.
Stephanie Browning has been pulling together fair pageants for a decade or so. After years of working alongside Amee Blake, she’s flying solo this year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the girls compete and finding out who the new title holders will be,” Browning said. “Also, a little stressed. There’s always a lot to do these last few days, but it’ll all come together. It always does.”
The pageants continue on Wednesday with the Teen Miss and Junior Miss pageants at 7:30 p.m. and conclude Thursday with Little Miss and Mister at 7 p.m.
The always-dapper Ed Hawkins will serve as pageant emcee.
“He volunteered. I think he’s more excited than I am,” Browning laughed. “We’re all excited. We love the fair.”
For schedule information or to register as a vendor in the farmer’s market, check out moncountyfair.org
