Published: March 29, 2007 01:00 am            

More than 50 entries to line up tonight

The 2007 Walker County Fair gets under way at 7 p.m. tonight with the “Proud to be Country” parade in downtown Huntsville.

The first full day of activities is Friday, including the first performance of the PRCA rodeo at the county fairgrounds west of Huntsville off state Highway 30.

Sicily Pierce, who is co-chairing the parade with Tammy Winkler, expects more than 50 entries for the parade which is considered the official kick-off for the fair which continues through April 7.

Entry deadlne was Wednesday afternoon to allow parade officials to schedule positions in which entries appear in the parade, but Pierce expects last-minute entries today.

Pierce said the parade will be dedicated in the memory of Huntsville High School sophomore Blake Sandel who died March 7.

Sandel was a member of the Huntsville FFA and Walker County 4-H Club and had shown animals at the county fair for the last eight years.

Pierce said parade entries include Huntsville mayoral candidates, individuals, businesses, queen contestants, prince and princess contestants and several county fire departments, including Huntsville, New Waverly and Riverside.

Entries will start lining up at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and all floats must be lined up and in place by 6:30. The parade starts at 7.

The parade starts at 19th Street, travels north on Sam Houston Avenue and then west on 11th Street, ending at Tractor Supply off state Highway 75.

Awards will be given in six categories, including most beautiful, President’s Award, exhibitor’s excellence, first place organization, first place business and queen’s award.

Winners will be announced Saturday during the opening ceremonies which begin at 1 p.m.

For more information, phone Pierce at 295-5448 or Winkler at 294-1674.

Today also marks the deadlne to purchase discounted season passes to the fair and discounted tickets to the fair’s pro rodeo Friday and Saturday, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Stace Smith Rodeos is providing the stock for the 2007 rodeo.

Season passes to the fair are $20 if purchased by 6 p.m. Thursday. The passes are good for all nine days, general admission only.

Season passes bought after Friday are $25, general admission only.

General admission to the fair is $5 for adults and $1 for children 6 to 12 years old. Admission is free to children 0 to 5 years old. Students with exhibitor badges are admitted free.

Ticket prices to the rodeo are $8 adult pre-sale, emd at 6 p.m. today, and $10 at the gate. Rodeo pre-sale tickets for children 6-12 are $4 and $6 at the gate.

Thursday’s lineup at the fair includes checking in youth and adult canned good entries from 4-7 p.m.; a sneak preview of the carnival from 5-10 p.m.; and scramble heifer check-in from 5:30-9 p.m.

        

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