It’s that time of year again. The weather’s a little cooler, the nights are coming earlier, and the Warren County Fair is in full swing.

The fair opened on Tuesday, and will continue through Saturday.

Gates will open on Tuesday, September 26 at 6:00 PM.  Wrist bands for all rides will be available and Senior Citizens age 65 and older will be admitted free with a Senior Citizens Card. 

Wednesday (today) is a school day, with opening at 1 p.m. and all students with a school pass will be admitted free until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday’s opening will be at 6 p.m., with Thursday being another wrist band night.  On the final day, Saturday, the gates will open at 3 p.m.

The Lions Food Booth and air conditioned dining room will be open each day for lunch and dinner, and ticket purchases at the gate are not required to enter the dining hall. 

The menu consists of hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, chicken, ham, special plate lunches (each day), cold drinks, milk, homemade pies and cakes.  There is no charge to park your car on the graded turf and parking lot attendants are on duty at all times.

As always, there will be a host of exhibits for viewing and judging. Club and Farm Exhibits are judged on effective title, suitable subject, attracts attention, holds interest, conveys message, general appearance, and workmanship. Educational Booth Premium Awards are as follows: First place gets $100, Second place garners $50, and third places wins $25 while honorable mention gets $20. 

Field crops, such as barley, corn, cotton, hay, oats, and small grain are paid premiums of blue, $4 and red, $3. Tobacco premiums are blue, $10 and red, $8. 

Horticultural entrants, such as apples, grapes, nuts, onions, pears, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, lima beans, okra, beets and others are paid blue, $3 and red, $2.

Arts and crafts and needlework must have been made since the 2006 fair, and must be made by the exhibitor. These premiums pay blue, $3.50 to $4 and red, $2.25 to $2.75.

Canning items will be judged on color, liquid, flavor, appearance, appropriate size, pack and jar fill. 

All canning must have been canned since the 2005 fair, the jar must be clear glass standard jars and exhibitors cannot exhibit more than one item in each exhibit.

These premiums are blue, $3 and red, $2 

Preserves, jelly, jams pickles and relishes are also judged on shape, clearness and color, flavor, texture, pack, and the syrup on consistency and proportion of juice.  These premiums are blue, $3.25 and red, $2.75.

Ball & Kerr Home Canning is sponsoring a Food Preservation Award to honor adults who excel at the art of home canning. Judges will select the two best entries submitted in fruit, vegetable, pickle and soft spread categories canned in Ball Jars, sealed with Ball Bands with Dome Lids or Ball Collection Elite Decorative Bands.

First place in each category will receive the following: Two $5 coupons for Ball or Kerr Home Canning Products and one $3 coupon for Ball 100 percent natural products. 

Second place will receive two $5 coupons for Ball or Kerr Home Canning Products.