Attendees enjoyed riding the swings during the 2022 West Virginia Interstate Fair and Expo. (File Photo)

MINERAL WELLS — The 2023 West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition will feature five days of entertainment, activities, carnival rides, track events and livestock shows near Mineral Wells.

The festival runs Tuesday through Saturday at the fairgrounds on Butcher Bend Road.

This year marks the fair’s 50th anniversary. Opening the fair on Tuesday will be the 70s sounds of the Classic Rock Experience. Thursday night’s headliner will feature the country sounds of Bronc Adams and the Southern Pride Band while Friday will feature up-and-coming country artist Spencer Crandall. Saturday night highlights the comedy sounds of Derrick Knopsnyder and Mike Travers.

Highlighting the motorsports track events are an off-road rodeo on Wednesday night, two nights of mud bogs Thursday and Friday, plus a full day of tractor and truck pulling on Saturday. The final day starts off with garden tractors and antique tractors, then wraps up the night with the truck and tractor pulls.

Other activities will include the carnival, fair food, petting zoo, games, contests, vendors and exhibits.

Admission is $10 per day for ages 3 and over. This is a pay-one-price that includes the stage entertainment, track events, and carnival rides. A three-day pass is $21 and a five-day pass is $36.

The schedule of activities includes:

TUESDAY

Senior Citizens Day (First 100 seniors age 60 and over free admission)

* 10 a.m.: School Project Judging (Kindergarten through Middle School); Photographic Arts

* 3 p.m.: Open Horse Show Registration

* 4 p.m.: Ticket Gates Open; Flea Market Opens; Quarter Bingo; Open Horse Show; Jr. Royalty Pageant Registration (Open Shelter); Tiny Tot Pageant (Ages 3-5) Girls and Boys; Little Miss and Mister (Ages 6-8) Girls and Boys; Jr. Miss (Ages 9-12); Senior Citizens Activities (Meals, Bingo, Karaoke); Livestock Learning Stations Open (Livestock Area); Phil’s Future Farmers (Livestock Area) Open 4-8 p.m.; Steam Engine Exhibit

* 5 p.m.: Junior Royalty Pageant; Other Pageants Immediately Following

* 6 p.m.: Carnival Opens; Open Horse Show Contest Classes

* 6:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies, Flag Raising Ceremony and Guest Dignitaries (Main Stage)

* 8 p.m.: Classic Rock Experience (Main Stage)

* 11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

WEDNESDAY

Kids Day

* 4 p.m.: Ticket Gates Open; Quarter Bingo; Livestock Learning Stations Open (Livestock Area); Phil’s Future Farmers (Livestock Area) Open 4-8 p.m.; Steam Engine Exhibit; Pretty Baby Registration (13-36 months) (Open Shelter); Kid’s Day Activities Begin (Ages 12 and under) with Games, Bounce House

* 5 p.m.: Carnival Opens; Pretty Baby Contest (13-36 months) (Open Shelter)

* 5:30 p.m.: ATV/ UTV Mud Bog Registration

* 7 p.m.: ATV/UTV Mud Bog and ATV/UTV Rodeo (Track Area); Premium Karaoke (Main Stage)

* 11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

THURSDAY

Armed Forces Day (Active military personnel admitted free with Active Duty or Active Reserve Duty Military ID)

* 4 p.m.: Ticket Gates Open; Quarter Bingo; Pretty Baby Registration (0-12 months); Mud Bog Registration; Livestock Learning Station Opens (Livestock Area); Phil’s Future Farmers (Livestock Area) 4-8 p.m.; Steam Engine Exhibit

* 5 p.m.: Pretty Baby Contest (0-12 months); Carnival Opens

* 6 p.m.: Diaper Derby Registration (Open Shelter); Diaper Derby (Ages 0-12 months) (Immediately following Pretty Baby contest)

* 7 p.m.: Bronc Adams and the Southern Pride Band (Main Stage); Mud Bog (Track Area)

* 11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

FRIDAY

* 4 p.m.: Ticket Gates Open; Quarter Bingo; Livestock Learning Stations Open; Phil’s Future Farmers (Livestock Area) 4-8 p.m.; Steam Engine Exhibit

* 5 p.m.: Mud Bog Registration; Hay Bale Throw, Skillet Toss Registration (Fair Office); ATV Drag Racing Registration (ATV Track Area); Carnival Opens

* 5:30 p.m.: Hay Bale Throw, Skillet Toss

* 6 p.m.: Watermelon Eating, Bubble Gum Blowing Registration (Fair Office)

* 6:30 p.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest

* 7 p.m.: TBA (Main Stage); Mud Bog (Track Area); ATV Drag Racing (ATV Track Area)

* 8:30 p.m.: Spencer Crandall (Main Stage)

* 11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

SATURDAY

* 9 a.m.: Antique Tractor Pulls (Pulling Track)

* 10 a.m.: Garden Tractor Pulls (ATV Drag Track)

* Noon: Ticket Gates Open; Quarter Bingo

* 1 p.m.: Carnival Opens; Kids Pedal Tractor Pull Registration (Fair Office)

* 2 p.m.: Kids Petal Tractor Pull (Fair Office)

* 3 p.m.: Spitting Contest Registration

* 3:30 p.m.: Spitting Contest

* 4 p.m.: Truck Pull Registration; Stone Throw Registration (Fair Office); Livestock Learning Stations Open; Phil’s Future Farmers (Livestock Area) 4-8 p.m.; Steam Engine Exhibit

* 4:30 p.m.: Stone Throw

* 5 p.m.: Truck and Tractor Pulls (Track Area)

* 8 p.m.: Comedy Night Featuring Derrick Knopsnyder and Mike Travers (Open Shelter)

* 11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close