Published: July 16, 2008 06:47 pm            

Paw Paw Fair returns to Rivesville July 22-26

RIVESVILLE — Since 1946, the Paw Paw Fair has brought excitement to the town of Rivesville and surrounding areas.

The 2008 fair will be held July 22-26 at Paw Paw Fairgrounds, two miles north of Rivesville on U.S. 19 North.

Schedule of events:

• Tuesday: 6 p.m. Grand parade from the elementary-middle school to Greentown.

Pageants (stage):

• Tuesday: Miss Paw Paw (ages 16-21).

• Wednesday: Teen pageant (ages 12-15).

• Thursday: Tiny Miss, Little, Junior Miss and Preteen (ages 3-12).

Entertainment (stage):

• Friday: Backfire.

• Saturday: Braden Stover and Josh Oldaker.

Activities (arena):

• Tuesday: ATV mud bog

• Wednesday: Four- and six-cylinder car demolition derby

• Thursday: truck pull

• Friday: Eight-cylinder and van demolition derby

• Saturday: truck mud bog; full-size and minivan demolition derby.

The fair was started in 1946 and incorporated in 1949, said Shirley Bragg. She, her husband Kenny and sons David and Mike “do whatever needs to be done” for the fair.

“We’ve been involved for 37 years,” she added.

“No one person can keep this going. It takes a lot of good workers, good volunteers, who keep working and working at it.”

The fair will also feature carnival rides and games, vendors, livestock and 4-H exhibits, commercial exhibits, as well as quilts and antiques. The cake decorating exhibit is new this year.

Concession stands will be run by Mike’s Catering, Rivesville PTO, Fairmont Senior Band and the Paw Paw Fair Association.

“This a fun fair,” she said. Best of all is the price: The $6 per person ticket covers everything — rides, derbies and mud bogs, entertainment — but concessions .

“I think that’s reasonable. Most people who come with young children are very pleased with the low price.”

Kenny Bragg remembers going to the Paw Paw Fair when he was a youngster.

“The fair used to be in the football field, behind the high school, where the middle school is now. It moved to the fairgrounds in 1967. I’ve been going to it since I was a kid.

“The fair has changed a good bit. Back then, we didn’t have mud bogs and derbies. It had music. Entertainment was its big draw.

“Mud bogs and derbies are big draws for us. They draw more people than music. It’s what people want and that’s what we have.”

When this year’s fair is over, the association will wait a while and begin planning next year’s event by September.

“It’s fun and exciting. It’s more for the kids than anything. That’s why I do it ... for the kids.

He agreed that the $6 ticket price is a bargain.

“Where else can you go (for that amount) and ride all night?”

For more information, call 278-7042.

E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.

        

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