Guests won’t stroll through the gates until Monday, but the Carbon County Fairgrounds in Lower Towamensing Township was buzzing with activity Sunday.

People showing animals or submitting still exhibits were flowing in and out of the Little Gap Road property making sure everything was just right before judges began deciding who would take home highly coveted Carbon County Fair ribbons.Kristin Simmons, who coordinates many of the contests at the fair, said the day before the fair opens is one of the busiest for volunteers as judging of still exhibits started at 7 p.m. Sunday night and would mostly conclude by 5 p.m. Monday.“Everyone is bringing in exhibits Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and then between 4 and 7 p.m., we’ll be busy trying to sort them by department, section and class.”That’s not as simple as it sounds and involves not just putting all the cakes together, but separating the chocolate from vanilla and other varieties.Decorated bowling pins, for example, must also be sorted by age group.At 7 p.m., judges will enter the two tents and start judging the perishable items.“It’s been 100 degrees at times inside this tent today so we have to get to those items first,” Simmons said. “Nobody wants to eat a cake that sits around in the heat all day. Vegetables are brought in at their peak and they’re just like us, the heat takes a toll on them.”For more on preparations from the fair, which is open from 3-11 p.m., Monday through Friday; and noon-11 p.m. on Saturday, check back to tnonline.com.