Parade to open Faulkner County Fair activities

CONWAY — The 83rd Faulkner County Fair will kick off at 5 p.m. Tuesday with its traditional parade in downtown Conway.

The theme is “The Show Must Go On,” and floats will be decorated as favorite television shows or movies, said Rick Sublett, parade chairman.

The parade will begin and end on Locust Street, and the full route is available at www.faulknercountyfair.net, Sublett said.

The fair will continue through midnight Saturday at the Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds, 2505 E. Oak St. Armbands, which can be purchased for $25, provide access to unlimited rides from 4:30-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Because of COVID-19 and the pandemic, there was no fair or parade last year.

“We did a scaled-back livestock show because the kids hadn’t worked with their animals,” Sublett said. “That’s what we’re all about — the livestock show in the home-ec part. We’re happy it’s back, and we’re looking forward to having a good fair. The whole experience is for everybody.”

David Henze, chairman of the Faulkner County Fair Board, said fair highlights include the livestock show and the home-ec exhibits, as well as rides every night, a kids talent show on Thursday and Saturday, and fair-queen pageants on Saturday. Also scheduled Saturday are superhero and ice-princess shows.

“Of course, we have the fair food: barbecue, funnel cakes, Dippin’ Dots, typical corn dogs and all of that,” he said. “We tried to just to get the normal stuff back.”

Also, the Conway Fire Department will provide a COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 4 p.m. to closing Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to closing Saturday at the Fire Department booth inside the expo center.

“We said, ‘Why not? We’ll have a lot of people out there,’” Henze said. He said the clinic will be convenient. “Hopefully, they’ll take advantage of it.”

Henze said he looks forward to nice weather and good crowds for the event.

“Hopefully, everybody will come out this year and be nice and have fun,” he said.

For more information about the fair, including a schedule, go to the fair website or check the fair’s Facebook page for updates.