You’ve got three weeks to get those Kiwanis Covington County Fair entries ready to show.

This year’s event will be held Oct. 15-21 and marks the 50th time the local club has hosted the annual event, said fair chairman and Kiwanian Wayne Bennett.

“The fair existed before we took over, but this is our 50th year sponsoring it,” Bennett said. “To highlight it, we’ll have a booth there chronicling the fair throughout the years, which I think will be very interesting.”

On Mon., Oct. 15, gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for Merchant’s Night, which with any receipt from a Covington County business for that day will reduce the armband for $20 to $18.

Regular admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children, with advanced tickets at local banks available for $5 for adults and $3 for children 6 to 12.

Highlighted events include the Little Miss and Tiny Miss Covington County Fair pageants, youth talent shows, a 4-H animal show on Thurs., Oct. 16, and Southern Tradition and Southbound River in concert outside on Sat., Oct. 20.

Individual-ride tickets will be available; however, unlimited-ride armbands are $20 nightly unless otherwise promoted.

To get involved in this year’s fair, entry areas include booth spaces and everything from the best cookies to best-looking sheep.

“There are many different ways to be involved in this year’s fair,” Bennett said. “In all the exhibits, there are hundreds of classes to chose from to enter. There are 70 possible winners just in the needlepoint and textile class alone. And don’t forget, there are monetary prizes for winners in all classes and all ages.

“Plus, the folks that have the booths are in a competition for the best as well, so pull out all the stops when decorating,” he said.

More than $40,000 annually in fair proceeds are put back in to programs that support children, Bennett said.

For more information about this year’s fair, including exhibit classifications and deadlines, see the Kiwanis Covington County Fair special publication available at The Star-News.