The Lee County fair is back in the Auburn-Opelika area, and with it a chance to eat copious amounts of funnel cakes, get dizzy on the spinning rides and even win a real, live rabbit.
The fair will be held at the Lee County Fair Grounds which is located off U.S. Highway 431, down from Opelika High School.
It will be open every day from Tuesday, Sept. 29 to Saturday Oct. 3.
Gates open at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 4 p.m on Saturday. Each day features different events.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, was Kids' Day at the fair. Admission was free from 4-6 p.m. A statewide lamb show was held in the livestock arena at 6 p.m. Kids' Cookie and Kids' Molded Plastic Building Blocks contests were judged at 6:30 p.m. The Miss Lee County Fair: Fairest of the Fair Pageant kicked off at 7 p.m.
The statewide heifer and steer show will take place Wednesday, Sept. 30, starting at 6 p.m. The Miss Lee County Fair: Fairest of the Fair will also be held Wednesday starting at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1, will feature the statewide goat show starting at 6 p.m. and live music starting at 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2, otherwise known as Have All The Fun You Can night, will include rides, an exhibit barn, cotton candy and live music.
The final day of the fair, Saturday, Oct. 3, will feature live music at 7 p.m.
Despite the rainy weather, people still came out to the fair in strong numbers Tuesday, according to Wesley Riesling, or Tiny as his coworkers call him, a worker who has been traveling with the fair since he was 5 years old.
“This is actually busier than last year, and last year it wasn’t even raining,” Riesling said.
Emily Incao, sophomore in elementary education, was one of the people out braving the muddy grounds with her Project Uplift buddy, who held a soft spot for the real life bunnies which doubled as prizes for one of the fair games.
“We’ve been to see the bunnies at least four times,” Incao said.
This was Incao’s first trip to the Lee County Fair which has been coming to Opelika since 1998.
Others, such as Leigh Foster and her daughter, Olivia Foster, are Lee County Fair regulars.
Olivia loves the rides that spin, but mother Leigh said her days as a passenger are over.
"I just rode that one with her," Leigh said. "I could do it when I was young but no more."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
