The Carroll County Fair opens Saturday, Aug. 17, at the county fairgrounds on Highway 21 north of Berryville. The theme for this year’s fair is “Once Upon A Fair,” which was chosen from entries submitted by local 4-H club members.

The fair officially kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with the annual Fair Parade, which will begin at the Carroll County Senior Activity & Wellness Center at 202 W. Madison Ave. in Berryville. The parade will continue through the Berryville Public Square.

There’s something for everyone at this year’s fair, from livestock exhibits to a pie contest to a ranch rodeo, from a battle of the bands to a tractor driving contest, from a car show to an ice cream contest to a beauty pageant.

Of course, there’s a carnival midway with plenty of exciting rides and delicious fair food.

In a county whose culture and economy center around agriculture, the fair is one of the biggest events of the year, especially for students as young as 5 and 6 years old.

FFA and 4-H students will be showing their animals in hopes of winning a coveted blue ribbon, with the annual premium sale — scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24 — regularly bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the students’ efforts.

“We raised a little over $250,000 last year,” fair board member John Swallow said. “That’s more than the state fair. And that’s all people from the county.”

The premium sale will be followed by the 4-H Poultry Chain Auction, which also raises money for the students.

The fair will also feature what Swallow called the “Ag Olympics,” with 4-H and FFA students competing in a variety of events.

The Miss Carroll County pageant, which includes several age divisions, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug.

17 and 18.

A Battle of the Bands featuring high school bands from Berryville, Eureka Springs and Green Forest will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, with a Ranch Rodeo scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23.