ROBERTSDALE, Ala. Cotton Candy. Caramel Apples. Funnel Cakes.

Rides that make your head and stomach spin and more livestock and baked goods than you can shake a stick at.

That can only mean one thing: It’s Fair time!

That’s right, the 60th Baldwin County Fair kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 28 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Baldwin County Coliseum and Fairground located at 19477 Fairground Road in Robertsdale.

There will be a Fair Parade on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. featuring South Alabama Antique Tractor and Engine Club and Horseback riders. Baldwin County Fair Manager Sonny Hankins said this is the first time they have had a parade before the Fair to “kick things off.”

Exhibitors registration and setup will be on Friday, Sept. 24 and Monday, Sept. 27 from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. Fair hours will be from 3 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and from noon to 11 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

The admission price of $10 for opening day (Tuesday) covers all rides and entertainment and on Wednesday, all students and senior citizens will be admitted free from noon to 6 p.m. The Myers International Midway opens at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

Admission on Wednesday after 6 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday will be $5 for adults and $1 for children (6-12). Arm bands can be purchased for $20 for unlimited rides on each day.

“We have been charging $5 for admission for 40 years and while other fairs are going up on their prices, we are keeping ours the same because of the tough economic times and the oil spill crisis. We want to help people out and want them to have fun with their families at the fair,” Hankins said.

Having its beginnings in 1948 when a group of Robertsdale businessmen wanted to construct a building to hold activities, Hankins said Baldwin County has the oldest fair in the state and his family is second and third generation fair managers.

“We have a new fairground and 79,000 square foot arena (largest open-air arena in the Southeast) so everyone needs to come by and see us. We have the largest fairground and coliseum in the Southeast and are proud to have Meyers International Midway for the last 20 years. They have been voted the best midway for three years in a row and they meet all federal and state requirements,” Hankins said.

This year’s theme revolves around Native American Culture and Agriculture and the Fair’s 38,000 square foot coliseum will feature many examples including the Baldwin County Archives and History Department’s recreation of and Indian agricultural experience.

Each day will feature different activities:

Tuesday will be Native American Theme and Salute to Agriculture Day with a Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull in the Arena at 5 p.m.

Wednesday is Students and Senior Citizens Day with the gates opening at Noon. Kiddie Tractor Pull at 3 p.m., Five River Delta Center animal Display at 3 and 6 p.m., Sweet Potato Cook-Off at 4 p.m. in the Coliseum, Kazoo Band and Rockin-ettes from the George P. Thames Senior Citizens Center at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and and Antique Tractor Exhibition at 6 p.m. in the Arena.

Thursday is Native American Day with Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull at 5 p.m. in the Arena , Antique Tractor Exhibition in the Arena and Cattlewoman’s “Why I Love Beef” Essay Contest Awards in the Coliseum at 6 p.m.

Friday is “Midnight Madness” for ticket holders only from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Five Rivers Delta Center Animal Display in the Arena from 3 to 9 p.m. Bo Campbell Rodeo Productions in the Arena at 7 p.m. featuring Hunk “The Cajun Kid” clown and Daniel Tramper, Hoop Dancer at 8 p.m. in the Arena. There will be a calf scramble at 8:30 p.m. in the Arena as well.

On Saturday, arm bands can be purchased for $15 from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until closing, only ticket holders will be able to ride. Tractor Pull, Tractor Exhibition and Rodeo will be in the Arena at 5 to 7 p.m. with Daniel Tramper in the Arena at 8 p.m.

In addition, there will be a Living Heritage Exhibit featuring Blacksmithing, Corn Shelling, Sugar Cane Processing and Slab Cuter Saw and “Show Me Swine” races nightly featuring three different species of pigs in the Arena. There will also be street fair music, a petting zoo, duckling pond and barrel racing nightly at the fairground.