BURLINGTON — The Boone County 4-H and Utopia Fair is celebrating three anniversaries this year.

        “It's the 100th year for 4-H as an organization,” John Walton, president of the fair board, said about the group. “This is our 70th fair and the 60th at the fairgrounds.”

        The fair, which is expecting an attendance of more than 30,000 people, runs Monday through Saturday at the Boone County Fairgrounds on Idlewild Road in Burlington.

        “The fairgrounds is probably in the best dress it's ever been in,” said Mr. Walton, of Burlington. “We have some extra tents, some extra booths. We have blacktop around all the booths. The grandstand is more handicap accessible. We're real proud of our fairgrounds.”

        He said he hopes traffic jams are relieved this year.

        “We're hoping there will be an additional access road built from Conrad Lane and Bulletsville and come straight across Maplewood Drive that will put people on the northwest corner of the fairgrounds,” Mr. Walton said.

        He said many people have requested that the gates on Main Street in Burlington be open but there aren't enough workers to man it, and the board is afraid it would increase traffic too much in a highly residential area.

        Festivities begin at 8 a.m. Monday with the 4-H Lamb Show at the livestock barn. The rest of the week includes horse shows, demolition derbies, other livestock shows and beauty pageants. There will also be contests such as bubble-gum blowing and watermelon seed spitting, carnival games, rides and food.

        Several businesses and organizations will have booths offering information about their services. There will be live entertainment nightly, and more than $52,000 in premiums, awards and prizes will be given away. Over 80 booths have been rented.

        “We try very hard not to duplicate the food either,” said Sandra Cupps, fair board member.

        She said the beauty pageants are extremely popular.

        The baby category includes children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. The category is broken into several age groups, and boys and girls compete separately.

        About 30 girls are expected to compete in the Ms. Teen contest this year. The contest is for girls between ages 13 and 15.

        Admission for the fair is $6 per person age 3 and over. Admission includes all but pony rides. Children under 3 can pay $1.50 per ride or the $6 admission for unlimited rides.

        The fair runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. The rides provided by Kissel Rides and Shows run Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to close, and Saturday from 1 p.m. to close.

        “It's the best entertainment deal in the area for the money,” said Mr. Walton.

        Go to www.boonecountyfair.org for a schedule of events, applications for the pageants and directions to the fairgrounds.

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