The fair is held at the Ingham County Fairgrounds, 700 E. Ash St. in Mason, and boasts numerous activities for families to enjoy. On hand this year are carnival rides, rodeos, open merchants, arts and crafts and even a chainsaw wood-carver.

“We have a lot to do this year,” fair executive director Terry Brail said. “We have a large kiddy-area for the kids, clowns, free petting zoos and pony rides.”

The fair is held on a 74-acre lot to accommodate all who wish to attend.

“We usually bring in 100,000 plus people,” Brail said. “We are down a bit right now, but we are hoping for good weather.”

Families don’t have to worry about beer spoiling the fun as alcohol is not permitted on fairgrounds, Brail said.

“We bill ourselves as a family fair,” he said. “We are very family oriented, so no alcohol.”

The lack of beer doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of other things for families to partake in. One of the highlights of the fair is the assortment of 4-H activities.

“We have thousands of animal exhibits and hundreds of 4-H exhibits,” Brail said. “We have one of the largest 4-H events in Michigan.”

A staple of the 4-H program also is on hand at the fair.

“This week is mostly livestock,” 4-H youth agent Michelle Collins said. “But the kids have a lot of booths running, also.

“We have a wide variety of things going on. Everything from food, clothing and art exhibits are here.”

Children from all 4-H programs help form the booths at the fair. An estimated 3,000 kids from after school programs, summer programs and more help make up the fair, Collins said.

“Clubs are organized into booths at the fair,” she said. “It gives people the chance to see the activities and the art projects done by the kids.”

In addition to the 4-H booths, a new activity is planned for each day of the week.

“We just had children’s day and senior citizen’s day,” Brail said. “In the future we have Union Family Fair Day and other activities.”

Today the fair is offering a Women’s Day program, a youth dog show and a battle of the bands in the evening.

On Friday the fair hosts its open class light horse show, a $9 unlimited ride pass, and a figure-eight demolition derby.

The “Last Blast” for the fair is Saturday and it will showcase a chainsaw-carvings auction and the final demolition derby.

With all that is offered at the fairgrounds its easy for families to find something entertaining.

“We try and come every year,” Holt resident Rodney Knott said. “It’s a lot of fun for the family.”

While families are entertained by the events, its easy to see that it’s the children who take the most pleasure from the activities, Rodney said.

“We love bringing the kids and letting them ride the rides and see the animals,” he said. “They love it.”

But the summer heat can cause problems for fairgoers and the animal visitors alike.

“It was a bit sad to see all the horses trying to stand for the crowds,” said Lansing resident Connie Hodgman. “The sweat was just pouring off them because it was so hot.”

But not even the heat can ruin the fun for the crowds.

“It’s a very good, clean fair,” Brail said. “And people love it.”

The carnival rides are a hit with many, but not all who attend, Hodgman said.

“The fair is wonderful,” she said. “But no rides for us. That’s for the kids.

“I love seeing all the people and the animals. It’s great.”