By SARAH GOODRICH
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Along with summer comes hot temperatures, sunny days, late nights and the annual Paw Paw District Fair.
Beginning Tuesday, for five consecutive days the Paw Paw Fair will host a variety of activities for all ages.
The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a parade travelling from the Rivesville Elementary and Middle School through downtown Rivesville.
(File photo)
Kenny Bragg, president of the fair’s board, said this is the second year the Power Wheels activities will be part of the fair.
Last year, Bragg said, the fair saw about 28 kids participating in the mud activities.
“It’s something for the kids. That’s what we’re trying to push is something to get the kids involved,” he said.
Participating children, a boy and a girl, will have the chance to each win a Power Wheel, which were donated by Backdoor Bargains.
“We got one for the boys and one for the girls, and we’re going to give them a ticket. They put their name on it and we’re going to draw, they run in the bog and then they can take it home,” he explained.
Beginning at 8 p.m., the Miss Paw Paw Pageant will take place with event promotions, prepared questions, street wear competition and evening gown competition. The crowning of the 2017 pageant queen will be at 10:30 p.m.
The Miss Paw Paw Pre-Teen Pageant will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday for those who are 10-12 years old. The pre-teens will be judged on Barbie wear, evening gown and prepared questions. The Miss Paw Paw Teen Pageant will begin at 8:30 p.m., following with the crowing of the chosen teen.
The second day of the fair will also include the ATV and dirt bike mud bog. For more information, call Mike Bragg at 304-278-5796
Thursday evening the fair will begin at 7 p.m. with the Little Miss Pageant for 5-6 year olds.
Afterward, folks can head to the Four Wheel Drive Pull. First-place winners will receive $100; second place will win $50 and third place winners will walk away with $25.
The last pageant of the fair will be held at 8:30 p.m. with the Junior Miss Pageant for ages 7-9.
Contestants will be judged on Barbie wear and pageant wear.
Friday evening will host the main attraction for many attendees — the demolition derby by Thomas Motorsport.
Prize money will be given to the winners. Participants entering the derby must have a four cylinder, a six cylinder, full size car, compact car, mini class, minivan, SUV or a small truck.
He said all of the money that it raised for the mud bogs and derby area has been funded back to the drivers.
“The fair doesn’t keep any of that,” he added. “The only thing it collects is what’s at the gate.”
The last evening of the fair, Saturday, will consist of the tike tractor pull, truck mud bog and a performance from The Top Shelf Band.
Aside from the activities and entertainment, carnival rides from Gambill Amusements, fair food and vendors will be available to attendees.
Bragg, who has been involved with the coordination of the fair for 33 years, said the event has “really grown”.
“We’ve got plenty of parking now. We don’t have to worry about parking anymore,” he said.
As the fair continues to grow, Bragg noted “you have to have something for the younger generation” of the community.
The gate price will be $8 per person for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday regardless of age. For Friday and Saturday, the gate price will be $10 per person. The ticket includes admission to nightly entertainment, exhibits and the mechanical rides on the midway all evening from 6:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.
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