The West End Fair will kick off its 101st year Sunday with admission specials, new vendors, bands and upgrades.

Fair President Dale Greenzweig Sr. said this year all veterans and active duty servicemen will have free admission to the fair with a valid identification card.

On Tuesday, everyone who brings a coat to donate to the West End Rotary coat drive will receive $1 off the $8 admission fee. Guests 10 and under are admitted free of charge.

Wednesday is senior citizens day, with admission of $4 for everyone 65 and older.

On Thursday, students are admitted for $4 with valid identification.

Greenzweig said the fair expanded its free rides session from two hours to four hours. Free rides will be available from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday.

On Tuesday, the fair is offering a sensory time from 10 a.m. to noon for people who are sensitive to lights, sounds and commotion.

In addition to the long-standing organizations serving up favorites, there are some new offerings.

Empanadas will be served from the previous filling stand down by the craft area. “This is something new that no one else has,” Greenzweig said.

Effort United Methodist Church is taking over the former St. John’s Church stand located near the rides. The new menu will include panini, Reubens, chicken and ham and cheddar, corn on the cob, baked potatoes with a variety of toppings, homemade chili and hot dogs in regular and larger sizes.

This year fair goers will have a new choice for beverages. A-Treat will be the vendor, supplying most of the stands with black cherry, cream, Treat-um and ginger ale.

Greenzweig said the fair has made several site improvements. The bathrooms by the livestock have been remodeled and the kitchen has been upgraded with new paint and new lighting. Fluorescent bulbs were replaced with LED lights.

Additional lighting is being added in the parking area.

Concerts on the main stage are included with admission. On the midway, people will be able to see performances every day by the Aquatic Acrobatic Show.

Tickets are available to shows in the arena, including the Black Cat Hell Drivers Thrill Show, two nights of demolition derbies, a junk car race, truck pulls, and the Bull Ride Mania Rodeo.

Fireworks on Sunday night will light up the sky at 9:30 p.m.

The fair is working on a kids area with tick-tack-toe and a corn box for children to play when they are tired of rides. More interactive animal offerings are planned.

Another new addition will be a 4-H livestock auction set for 10 Saturday morning.

Greenzweig said Lehigh Valley Health Network will set up a first aid station by Gate 3.

The fair runs Sunday, Aug. 20 through Saturday, Aug. 26.

Gates open at 2 p.m. daily. For events starting before 2 p.m. Gate 1 will be open.

For dropping off and picking up visitors, the fair encourages the use of Gate 3 for quicker in and out access.

Agricultural buildings are open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 9 p.m. the rest of the week.

The fairgrounds are located on 570 Fairgrounds Road in Gilbert.

Visit www.westendfair.com for more information.