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The Houlton Agricultural Fair opened Thursday and runs until Sunday, July 6, at Houlton Community Park.

Gates open each day by 9 a.m. and the midway opens at 11 a.m. each day.

You can take in all the exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment, and ride all the rides you want for just $9 per person (kids two and under are free).

The schedule is full of exciting activities for people of all ages, from demolition derbies, horse pulls, a draft-horse show, two pleasure-horse shows, truck pulls, a truck mud run, lawnmower races, frog-jumping contest, pig scrambles, Kachunga and his alligators, Circus Sam the acrobat, a car show, Cash Cube, lots of games, karaoke contests, musical acts, barbecue rib fest, and much, much more.

Check out the complete schedule of events at www.houltonfair.com.

2008 Invitational Demolition Derby Fire Department Challenge

All Aroostook County Fire Departments and the Woodstock Fire Department are invited to participate in the first-ever Invitational Fire Department Demolition Derby at the fair on Saturday, July 5, at 6 p.m.

This derby is just for invited fire departments using compact cars only. (Rules for compact cars are posted at www.houltonfair.com)

Prize money will be $800 for first place, $400 for second, and $250 for third, with the monies all being paid to each fire department association.

There will be a Travelling Trophy awarded to the winning fire department to be held for a year and going home with them for "bragging rights." The trophy will then be brought back to next year's derby to be re-engraved with the 2009 winner.

Come and see which town's fire department will triumph. Who's got the best drivers and the best "pit teams" to keep them in the hunt?

School Bus Demolition Derby Challenge

As a finale, after the Invitational Fire Department Demolition Derby, Andy Marino and pit crew with take on Barrett Peabody with Albert Fitzpatrick as his pit crew chief in their respective school buses. The jabs and good-natured prodding have already begun between the two teams so it should be like the rematches of old when Andy and Albert used to go head to head in the regular derbies.

This is the first time the Houlton Fair has entertained school buses in the demolition derby, so it will be a challenge not to be missed. The school buses will take the "centre ring" as soon as the fire departments are finished.

Houlton Fair Mud Run on July 4

The annual Mud Run will be held starting at noon on July 4. Registration will take place from 11 a.m. to noon. There will be six classes for Mud Run vehicles that include four to six cylinder, eight to 10 cylinder, pro stock, modified, pro modified, and an unlimited class.

The entry form for the Mud Run is available at the Houlton Power Sports, Cary Library or online at the fair's Web site at www.houltonfair.com.

Antique Tractor Pulls

Antique Tractor Pulls and Games are back at the Houlton Fair.

The Antique Tractors are always a popular draw at the fair as fairgoers watch them pull and try their hand at precise tire placement on a coin or how close they can get those old tractors to an egg without cracking it. These tractors can still pull the weight, so come out and watch what they can do.

These great old farm machines will put on quite a show. So look for them on Saturday, July 5, starting at 10 a.m. at the pull track on the fairgrounds.

Musical entertainment at the fair

The Houlton Fair will feature a variety of music to appeal to everyone. The Maine Army National Guard Band has agreed to march in the 4th of July parade and will then head over to the fairgrounds and put on a concert at 3 p.m. on the stage in the ballfield.

Karaoke returns on Friday, July 4, at 12:15 p.m. and round two is at 3:15 p.m. with the finals starting at 7:30 p.m.

On the evening of the 4th of July, the fair will have Rock Renaissance in concert on the stage in the ballfield at 7:30 p.m. The band will play right up to the fireworks show. Rock Renaissance will set the fireworks to music!

After the demolition derby on Sunday, July 6, Teddy Bither and the Boys will perform in the Entertainment Tent starting at 6:30 p.m.

Calling all cars

Small or large, there is a class for everyone in the demolition derby.

John and Brittany Benn and their derby crew do a great job in putting this derby together and everyone has a great time, from participants to spectators!

Registration forms and the rules for the derby are available at the Cary Library, online at www.houltonfair.com or from John at Benn's Auto on the Calais Road in Houlton.

Prize money for the regular derby is $800 for first place, $400 for second and $250 for third.

For the Compact Car Class, the prizes are $400 for first, $250 for second and $150 for third. There will be trophies for each place, as well as one for the Most Aggressive Driver in both derbies.

Sign up for this year's Houlton Fair Demolition Derby on Sunday, July 6, at 4 p.m.

Kachunga and his Alligators

On a return engagement to the Houlton Fair this year is Kachunga and his Alligators.

They come to the fair directly from Florida and the Everglades. His alligators are in all sizes from six weeks old to several years old and several feet long.

Kachunga's shows are from 30 to 45 minutes long, and after each show there is an opportunity for kids of all ages to get their picture taken with one of the alligators.

The shows are both entertaining and informative. You will get a real picture as to how the alligators live today.

The alligator shows run three times daily.