POCOMOKE–

The Great Pocomoke Fair kicks off today, Thursday, and will continue Friday and Saturday with activities and exhibits in the southern end of Worcester County.

Gloria Smith, treasurer of the fair committee, said approximately 2,500-3,000 people attend the fair and some specific activities attract visitors every year.

“The harness racing, antique tractor pull and greased pig contest are local attractions,” she said. “Regarding the harness racing, we are the only fair with a single day of harness racing for entertainment.”

Other activities include indoor exhibits, such as crafts, home furnishings, canned and baked good and vegetables, livestock exhibits and hog, dairy cow and beef cattle judging.

Fair gates will open at 5 p.m. today, Thursday. Admission costs $2. Visitors have the option to bring four non-perishable food items to receive half-off the price of admission all three days of the fair. Smith said the proceeds will benefit the Good Samaritan Shelter and the partnership is an initiative by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, of which the fair is a member.

The Good Samaritan Shelter provides transitional housing and supportive services to men, women and women with children in local communities.

The Little Miss Great Pocomoke Fair Pageant is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. today on the grandstand stage. The Jr. Miss Pageant will follow at 8 p.m. A gospel concert will begin at the conclusion of the fair at 8:30 p.m. on the grandstand stage.

Activities are scheduled from 5-8:30 p.m. on Friday and the cost of admission is $2. There will be indoor and livestock exhibits and hog, dairy cow and beef cattle judging. A gospel concert is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the grandstand stage on Friday. Thdez family is scheduled to present a singing performance at the conclusion of the fair at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s activities will take place from 8 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. Admission cost is $2 and children 6 and younger will be admitted free.

An equine show will be the first of Saturday’s events. Judging for exhibits and livestock will take place throughout the day on Friday and Saturday.

Live harness racing will take place from 12:30-4 p.m. in the grandstand area Saturday. Both exhibition and sanctioned races will be carded.

Children’s activities are also scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, and include games and crafts. Smith said the activities change each year but one game remains the same: “Chick Scratch.” Trays are filled with chicken coup shavings with coins buried inside. Children are divided in age groups and each child sifts through the shavings to find and keep the hidden coins.

Registration for the antique/classic tractor pull will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with races starting at 5 p.m.

Fireworks, by Fireworks Extravaganza, will be set off at the conclusion of the fair at 10:15 p.m.

For more information, call the fairgrounds at 410-957-4486 or visit www.thegreatpocomokefair.org.