T-R FILE PHOTO - The rodeo at the Central Iowa Fair, which will be held on Saturday night again this year along with the youth rodeo on Thursday night, is traditionally one of the most popular events.

With the theme of “It’s the Sweet Life,” this year’s Central Iowa Fair is sure to offer something for everyone.

Free parking and free admission are available, so there will only be a handful of activities requiring fees.

“We are so excited and pleased that we’ve got so many area businesses here in Marshalltown that have stepped up and sent us sponsorship money so that we can make our fair a lot bigger and better,” Board President Jodi Breniman said. “Without their support, we couldn’t do it. We’re a nonprofit organization, so if we don’t have these area businesses stepping up, we can’t have anything out here.”

Festivities kick off Wednesday at 8 a.m. with a Farm Credit Services of America Breakfast for 4-H/FFA at the activity building.

Outdoor and food vendors will open for business by 11 a.m.

“We have a large amount of vendors coming this year,” she added.

They are as follows: Claire’s Tenderloins (Wednesday only). Then Thursday through Saturday will be: Appleberry Farm, The Big Acai, Maria’s Tacos, Fire on Wheels Pizza, Smokin Hog Pit Stop BBQ, JJ’s Smash Burgers, 3rd Avenue Dairy Queen, Wisconsin Dells Cheese Stop and Snow 2 Go.

There will be about 30-35 outdoor vendors, ranging from homesteading, jewelry, clothing, food and more.

Wednesday will also see Kid Land open, featuring putt putt golf, spin art, inflatables, slip and slide, suds area and more. Cost is $5 for a wristband, good for the entire day, each day of the fair. Photo booths for pictures open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

It will also be the day dedicated to recognizing award winners. At the Big Top Tent starting at 5 p.m., come out to see who will be this year’s winner of the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, Ruth Gale Memorial, Food & Nutrition, Skilled Sewing Award, Senior Members, Youth Ambassador Scholarship, CIF Scholarship and Record Book winners. At 5:15 p.m., the Central Iowa Fair Hall of Fame award will be presented. This will be followed at 5:30 p.m. by the Parade of 4-H Club Members.

Six o’clock will bring the crowing of Central Iowa Fair Little Miss Princess and Central Iowa Fair Queen.

There are around 15 youngsters in the running for Little Miss Princess, with the winner’s name drawn out of a hat at the crowning. Preregistration was required.

“We are really down this year on fair queens. We only had one that applied –Ella Wertz, a runner-up last year — so she will automatically be our fair queen this year,” Breniman said.

Following the coronation, at 6:15, the WM FFA Alumni Ice Cream Social will occur. At 7 p.m., youth can partake in the Scavenger Hunt for 4’H’ers.

Thursday will kick off at 8 a.m. with a GNB Bank Breakfast for 4-H/FFA families at the activity building. Kid Land will continue from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Don’t miss the 4-H/FFA Hose Show at 9 a.m. in the outdoor arena, as well as the 4-H/FFA sheep, meat goat at the same time in the pavilion.

From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., kids can participate in free cookie decorating in the Big Top Tent.

Marshall County Master Gardeners will be hosting a variety of STEM activities for children. From 11 a.m. to noon at the activity building, enjoy dirt n worms on Thursday, recycled seed pots on Friday and seed necklaces on Saturday.

The ISU monarch butterfly tent will be set up east of the exhibit building from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, with the butterflies released at 6 p.m.

Zoops Fun Zone will be set up around the picnic shelter from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The Central Iowa Fair Silent Auction items in the pavilion will benefit the Scholarship Program. Bidding starts on Wednesday evening and concludes at the end of the supreme showmanship contest (around 4 p.m.) on Saturday.

A highlight of Thursday night will be the CIF Youth Rodeo at 6 p.m. in the outdoor arena. Check-in will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Marshalltown Night at the Races will be at 7 p.m., followed by Mike Bernard & the Midwest Made performing at 8 p.m.

Friday will begin with another 4-H/FFA breakfast in the activity building, sponsored by Farmers Savings Bank, at 8 a.m. The Oreo cookie stacking contest, held at the exhibit building, will occur at 10 a.m.

Breniman said new this year will be the Color Fun Run for all ages. Register at 5:30 p.m., with the race starting at 6 p.m. at the west parking lot/race track. The first 100 people who sign up will get a free white t-shirt.

“We’ll run them up and they’ll do a lap around the racetrack where they’ll get sprayed with the color and have a good time,” she said.

An arm wrestling contest will follow at 6:30 p.m. at the show pavilion. A bags tournament will get off the ground at 7 p.m., with a concert by Cody Hicks starting at 8 p.m.

Saturday at 7 a.m. will be the US Bank breakfast for 4-H/FFA families at the activity center, followed by the swine show at the pavilion at 8 a.m. and Kiwanis P.M. Kiddie Tractor Pull at 10 a.m.

She said the mud volleyball tournament will take place at noon in the west parking lot and is expected to have a high participation rate. The Marshalltown ARL will be around from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with adoptable pets.

Mechanical Bull riding by the tent will be set up from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and again from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The CIF Bull Riding Rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. Music by Grand Marshall will start at 8 p.m.

Be sure to check out the auction items in the pavilion. Proceeds benefit the scholarship program. Bidding will run Wednesday night through 4 p.m. Saturday.

By 10 p.m. Saturday night, livestock will be released from the grounds exiting from the east gate only. Sunday is clean-up and packing day.

For a complete list of the fair schedule, visit: www.centraliowafairgrounds.net.