A WORK IN PROGRESS — Visitors to Brooke Hills Park are invited to add a painted stone to Brookes the Snake, a serpentine creation winding its way from Brooke Hills Playhouse to the Brooke County fairgrounds, post a photo of themselves with it to the fair’s Facebook page and be entered into a drawing for free admission to the event, which will be held Friday through Sept. 17. A rodeo, demolition derby, rides and inflatable attractions for children are among the many events and activities offered this year. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Fair will again offer much to see, hear, do and taste when it returns to Brooke Hills Park Friday through Sept. 17.

This year’s festivities will include an assortment of competitions in the Luckey E. Rodeo beginning at noon Sept. 17. Events will include barrel racing, bull riding, trick riding, chute doggin’, breakaway, steer and team roping and events involving children.

Patty Lish, who co-chairs the fair with Janice McFadden, said since the fair was revived in 2003, she and other organizers have tried to add at least a few new things each year.

Lish noted another addition is the Fort Steuben Kennel Association, which will be bringing various dogs for an obedience demonstration at 6 p.m. Friday and a trick show at 11 a.m. Sept. 16.

Admission to the fair is $8, with cash only accepted at the entrance, and includes the rodeo on Sept. 17 and rides and inflatable attractions for children through the weekend. Three-day passes are $20 each and will be available up to Wednesday at the park’s clubhouse or the fair’s website at www.brookecountyfair.com, where a full schedule of events can be found.

Visitors to the fair also will find Butterflies by Heather’s free interactive, educational walk-in butterfly tent on Sept. 16 and 17; rides and games through the weekend; miniature train rides through the fairgrounds; opportunities to learn how to throw an ax; the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment re-enactment group; demonstrations of blacksmithing, candle- and soap-making and woodworking; a petting zoo and the PPG Adventure Air Glider Show.

The schedule for the fair includes, among many events, opening ceremonies at 6 p.m., and Black Diamond Wrestling matches at 7 p.m. Friday; an assortment of creatures presented by Wild, World of Animals at 1 p.m., the Steel Casa Band at 4 p.m. and Nathan King Band at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16; and a demolition derby at 1:30 p.m., an appearance by West Virginia University mascot Mikel Hager from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and performances by D. David Stiles and Autum Duckworth at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, all on Sept. 17.

Each year the fair has involved many contests, including: The Queen of Queens Pageant at 10 a.m., a tug of war among children from the county’s primary schools at noon, a truck race in the park’s mud pit at 1 p.m. (with registration at 10 a.m.); a mud volleyball tournament among middle school students at 1 p.m. and among high school students at 4 p.m., a pizza-eating contest at 3 p.m. and a bottle flipping contest, for youth and adults, at 6 p.m., all on Sept. 16; and a contest involving twins, triplets and others of identical or fraternal births at 12:30 p.m. and a corn hole tournament at 3:30 p.m. (with registration at 2:30 p.m.), both on Sept. 17.

For information about the pageant, call Shirlie Rogers, coordinator, at (304) 919-9818.

For registration information about the volleyball tournaments, see the forms link on the fair’s website.

Brooke County 4-H Clubs have been regular participants in the fair, displaying various projects and offering crafts and other activities for children. Their parent organization, the West Virginia University Extension Service, will be on hand with a farmers market with free produce for children to select.

Local 4-H members also are among artists who have painted stones to create Brookes the Snake, which is winding its way from Brooke Hills Playhouse to the fairgrounds. Before the fair, visitors to the park are being invited to add their own painted stone, post a photo of themselves with it to the fair’s Facebook page and be entered into a drawing for free admission to the event.

Lish said Brookes consists of more than 100 stones, and the goal is for him to grow to 200 before the fair.

Fairgoers also may enter a unique drawing called the Lucky Square Drone Drop, which will help to close the fair at 6 p.m. Sept. 17.

Lish explained individuals can purchase $5 chances on up to 100 squares to be marked near the playhouse, over which a drone will drop a balloon. The “sponsor” of the square in which it lands will win a cash prize.

She said more than 100 chances may be sold, so the drone may make multiple drops if needed.

Chances may be purchased at the park’s clubhouse or through the fair’s website.

Lish and McFadden expressed thanks to the volunteers behind the fair and the many businesses and other organizations that have provided financial and other support.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)