DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The 168^th annual Coffee County Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Manchester with fun, food, competitions and games on tap through Saturday.

The gates opened on the exhibition Friday making it the perfect landing spot for post-game festivities after the 100^th playing of the Coffee Pot football classic between cross-county rivals Tullahoma and Coffee County Central.

For today, Saturday, Aug. 30, gates opened at 1 p.m. and rides started at 3 p.m. Gate charge will be $10. The Miss Teen competition will be held off-site at Coffee County High School at 5:30 p.m. Fairest of the Fair starts at 8 p.m. at the high school.

For Sunday, Mountain Highway Bluegrass will be the entertainment in the Center Ring from 1-5 p.m. while the Baby and Toddler Show will be held offsite at the high school from 1-5 p.m. Gates open at 1 p.m. and rides start at 3 p.m. Gate charge is $10.

Monday will see monster trucks take over the track at 7 p.m., just after the sheep show begins at 6 p.m. in the livestock barn. Mountain Highway Bluegrass will also be in the Center Ring from 1-5 as an open class car show is going on. The Little Miss Coffee County pageant will be at the high school at 6 p.m. Gate charge at the fair will be $10. Gates open at 1 p.m. and rides begin at 3 p.m. Monday will be military night. Active military, veterans, first responders and law enforcement get in free with identification.

Tuesday will see karaoke at the Center Ring at 6:30 p.m. with the winner getting $125. A sheep show will be held at 6 p.m. at the livestock barn. Junior Miss Coffee pageant for 6-8 years is at the high school at 6 p.m. while the 9-12 category is at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m., rides at 5 p.m. Gate fee is $10.

Wednesday will be senior citizens day with all persons over 55 admitted free. Gate charge for everyone else is $10 but fair goers can get $1 off by bringing a canned good for donation. Body slams and power bombs will begin at 6 p.m. in the Center Ring as Southern States Wrestling puts on a show oppose the dairy show at the livestock barn. The senior citizens program will be at 9 a.m. and there will be an antique tractor show at 10 a.m. at Center Ring. Gates open at 4 p.m. and rides start at 5 p.m.

Four on the Floor will be performing Thursday at 8 p.m. at Center Ring. The Junior Cattle show will be at the livestock barn at 6 p.m. Gate charge is $10. Gates open at 4 p.m. and rides start at 5 p.m.

Friday will be youth day as Coffee County Schools get the day out of class, with events all day geared for the youth. There will be a junior beef show at 6 p.m. and a tractor pull at 7 p.m. Gate fee is $10. Gates open at 9 a.m. and rides start at 1 p.m.

The fair will conclude Saturday with a day full of events beginning with the dog show at 9 a.m. and ending with a tractor pull at 7 p.m. There will be a mule race at 6 p.m. and farmer’s Olympics at 2 p.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. and rides start at 11 a.m. Gate charge is $5.

Ride specials include wristbands for $30 or $25 if you get them online. Wednesday will be buy one and get one free with coupon. Teachers get half off an armband with teacher ID on Friday while $25 is all you pay for an all-day ultimate armband.

For a complete list of events, get your fair book while supplies last at the Tullahoma News or Manchester Times or by stopping by Baker Brothers, Manchester Farm Center, Farm Bureau, Manchester Co-Op, Manchester Chamber of Commerce or the Fair Office.