The 95th annual West End Fair opens today and runs through Saturday with the theme of "Harvest the Fun."

The fair, at 570 Fairgrounds Road in Gilbert, will feature agriculture, livestock, 4-H, home products, arts, crafts, entertainment, music, vendors, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, truck pulls, food, rides, games and fireworks.

The fair has new hours this summer. The gates open at noon every day, and Gate 1 will be open for events starting before noon.

The agricultural buildings are open noon-10 p.m. every day except for today, when they are closed for judging.

Admission is $5 daily, and children under 11 are free. The price includes free stage, bandshell and attraction shows.

Special prices include Wednesday, senior citizens day, $3 for ages 65 and older; and Thursday, children's day, $3 for students with school photo ID.

Wristbands are available for $25 all day Sunday through Thursday, and $15 Monday and Tuesday from 1-5 p.m.

Every day you will find events in the Main Arena, bandshell, Main Stage, the vendor area, Kids Korral, Agricultural Education Arena and free show area.

Main Stage events include West End Fair's Got Talent, bands and singers such as Audra McLaughlin.

The bandshell also features many bands.

The Main Arena features the West End Fair Dirt-a-Rama, demolition derbies and tractor pulls.

The Agricultural Education Arena includes animal judging, demonstrations by community organizations, crafts and games. The schedule changes daily.

Goodtime Amusements will be there with rides every day. The Carbon Model Railroad Society is in the vendor area. Fun With Balloons balloon sculpting will be there until Thursday in the vendor area. Farmer for a Day will be available every day in the Kids Korral, where kids can get a hands-on experience. The Dennis Beach Chainsaw Carving show will be every day in Museum Lane.

The Great Lakes Timber Show will run from Aug. 22-27 and features chain-saw carving, ax throwing, and more in the free show area.

Barnyard Express features animals every day.

Sunday features the opening ceremony at 4 p.m. on the Main Stage, including the fair queen coronation. The kids pedal pull will be at 3 p.m. in the Arena Hub. West End Fair's Got Talent will be at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage. The night will end with a firework show at 9:30 p.m. at the Main Arena.

On Monday you can see the Large Flowerheads perform at 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage, the Essential Elvis Tribute show at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage, and the West End Fair Dirt-a-Rama at 7 p.m. in the Main Arena. The Dirt-a-Rama will feature Go Karts, Slingshots and Stage One Modifieds. There is halter class horse judging at 12:30 p.m. in the Agricultural Education Arena.

Tuesday features season six contestant on NBC's "The Voice" Audra McLaughlin at 3 p.m. on the Main Stage and Demolition Derby 1 with full-size cars, a youth division and lawn mowers at 7 p.m. in the Main Arena.

Wednesday's activities include the Antique Tractor Pull at 10 a.m. in the Main Arena, livestock judging at 11:30 in the Agricultural Education Arena, All-American female trio the Belle Tones at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage, Kids Power Wheels Demo Derby at 7 p.m. in the Main Arena, and more.

MeLVin of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Tux of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will arrive Thursday in the Kids Korral, Arena Hub and throughout the fairgrounds. There will be children's games at 3 p.m. in the Agricultural Education Arena, which features games such as sack races and coin tosses. Hop & Bop with Lorri & Jimmy - Interactive Music for Kids will be at 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. The Phillip Fox Band performs at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage and the West End Fair's Got Talent will perform at 8 p.m. at the bandshell.

Friday features performances by SteelCreek at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage, the Bandana Brothers at 2 p.m. on the bandshell and the arena concert featuring Kansas and Pink Floyd tribute bands starting at 7 p.m. in the Main Arena.

Ending the fair on Saturday is the Garden Tractor Pull in the Main Arena, a magic show by Magician Jim of Just Illusions at 2:30 p.m. at the bandshell, and a woodcarving auction with items made by Mike Ayers from the Dennis Beach Chainsaw carving show at 5:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

Many dance academies can be found throughout the week including Cartesion Dance Academy at 1 p.m. Sunday at the bandshell, Fusia Dance Center at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Elite Dance Center at 5 p.m. Saturday at the bandshell.

There will also be exhibitor contests including an apple pie contest, angel food cake and chocolate cake.

Go to

www.thewestendfair.com for directions, event schedules and more information.