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By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 8, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Maddison Miller, 2, talks to the bunnies on display at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Wednesday night. She likes watching them eat.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Trinity Flow, 9, laughs as she passes her family standing to the side of the carousel at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Wednesday night. This was Trinity's first time at a fair.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
The Charles B. Aycock High School varsity cheerleading team performs Wednesday night for a grandstand full of people during the annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair cheerleading competition. Charles B. Aycock took home the first place trophy for the second year in a row.
Traffic at the Wayne County Fairgrounds has picked up considerably over the past few days as the return of dry weather is bringing people out to the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair.
But after days of heavy rain that either kept the fair from opening at all or forced it to operate on an abbreviated schedule, the traffic is a problem that fair officials say they can manage.
Fair Manager Eddie Pitzer said he appreciates the public's patience as they wait to pull into the fairgrounds parking lot.
"The weather has cooperated over the last few days and last night attendance was up a little bit," Pitzer said. "People came in early for the cheerleading contest. Also we had the talent show for K-5 and a lot of kids came in through that. It was a good Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope the weather will cooperate this weekend and we can get in the demolition derby.
"Our vendors had a good night last night. There were a lot of students and there was good activity on the midway."
Pitzer said he, vendors and midway officials have been pleased with the crowds over the past several days.
Horses, ponies and mules will take center stage tonight as the fair is expected to enjoy yet another day of mild and more importantly dry weather.
Pitzer said he is particularly excited about today's mule and pony show at 6 p.m. and horse show at 7 p.m.
"We have a good competitive horse show," he said. "I am looking forward to having a show under our new livestock shelter. With all of the rain we had to cancel all of the other (livestock shows)."
The gates will open at 4 p.m. today and Friday and Powers Great American Midways at 5 p.m.
Pitzer is expecting another night of heavy student attendance because of the Tractor Operators' Contest at 4 p.m. at the grandstand, the vocational competition in masonry in the Educational Showplace at 5:30 p.m. and the talent show for grades 6-8 at 4:30 p.m. and for grades 9-12 at 7 p.m. in Entertainment Arena.
Also on tap for today are the Almost Amazing Rex and Dana Ryan at the West Pavilion at 6 p.m., the Pork Chop Review at the Center Stage at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.,and hypnotist Mike Bishop at 7 and 9 p.m. in the East Pavilion.
The fair continues through Saturday when the gates will open at 11 a.m. and the midway at noon.
Highlights for Saturday include the ugly pickup truck contest at 1 p.m. followed by the demolition derby at 1:30 p.m. Both will be held at the grandstand.