Residents have one week to get entries in for this year’s Kiwanis Covington County Fair.

Keith Stephens, chairman of registration, said Friday that this year’s fair will open on Mon., Oct. 14, and close on Sun., Oct. 20.

Aside from the rides on the midway, one of the biggest draws are the exhibits found inside, Stephens said.

“The categories are too numerous to list,” Stephens said of the nearly 30 divisions of competition that range from baked goods and photography to woodworking pieces and sheep. “The great thing about entering in the county fair is that it is so rewarding. It’s ribbons, prize money and bragging rights.”

And Stephens said there are multiple opportunities for all three.

“I would highly suggest that if anyone has something that fits a category, please bring it,” he said. “It doesn’t cost anything to enter, and you never know. Some years we have lots of entries in the categories. Others we don’t and those categories are wide open. This could be your year.”

For a complete list of this year’s categories, copies of the fair tab can be found at The Star-News office.

The Kiwanis Center will be open to accept entries on Fri., Oct. 11, and Sat., Oct. 12, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sun., Oct. 13, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., with the exception of horticulture and farm animal entries. Those will be accepted only on Sunday.

“And I would say come on Friday or Saturday,” Stephens said. “Don’t wait until Sunday because it gets kind of busy.”

Tags will be provided at the time of entry, he said. First, second and third place prizes will be given, and cash prizes vary. Entries are generally limited to two per category per person; however, the fair committee reserves the right to amend that rule.

As for the rest of the week, there is a lot planned, Stephens said.

The gates will open for the fair on Mon., Oct. 14, at 5:30 p.m. With a receipt from a local merchant, armbands will be $18 and $20 without a receipt. Individual ride tickets will also be available.

Other events include a beauty pageant on Monday and a two-day talent contest on Wed., Oct. 17, for seventh through 12th graders, and Thurs., Oct. 18, for kindergarteners through sixth grade.

Cash prizes – $150, $75 and $25 – will be awarded for first place through third place for children and youth.

For more information, call Gary Buck at 222-4687 at night and 222-1915 during the day.

All acts will be limited to five minutes and should be in good taste, suitable for family audiences. The Kiwanis Covington County Fair reserves the right to reject any entry.

This contest is for amateur talent only.