News Photo by Crystal Nelson Representatives of the Alpena County Fair participate in the 4th of July parade in downtown Alpena on Independence Day.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Fair begins Saturday, with a carnival and mini circus scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

This year’s fair will feature many family favorite events including a rodeo, country music concert, tractor pull, and bump and run. Senior day is Wednesday, military appreciation day is Friday, and kids day is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21.

Youth with the Alpena County 4-H program will return to in-person showmanship competitions after the coronavirus pandemic forced the events to move to a virtual program last summer.

“I am excited and happy that (Michigan State University Extension) has been able to roll out with face to face programming and that The Alpena County Fair is underway,” Alpena County 4-H Program Coordinator Michelle Eagling said. “While youth spend all year engaging and learning through 4-H programming, Fair week is the favorite.”

4-H youth can check their animals into the livestock barns on the fairgrounds from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, with small animal weigh-in scheduled for 2 p.m. and large animal weigh-in scheduled for 3 p.m. Animal showing will begin on Sunday.

The small animal sweepstakes is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, with the large animal sweepstakes to follow at 5 p.m. 4-H’s Got Talent is at 3 p.m. Thursday, and the 4-H market sale is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday.

There will be several daily events beginning Tuesday, including a comedy farm review at 2 p.m, 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. beginning and a mini circus featuring the Cincinnati Circus at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m.

The carnival opens at 3 p.m. Tuesday, but will open at 12 p.m. through the last day of the carnival on Aug. 21.

Evening events are as scheduled:

* 7 p.m. Wednesday — Super Kicker Rodeo

* 7 p.m. Thursday — Country concert featuring Kevin Shaffer and The Sturgeon Valley Band

* 7 p.m. Friday — bump and run

The Alpena Cycle Club Tractor Pull is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 21 and the Thumb Tractor Pull Association is scheduled for 6 p.m. One $8 ticket allows entry into both pulls.