Rain or shine, the annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair gets underway Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

Rain or shine, the annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair gets underway Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

The best 10 days of fall are right around the corner.

Will they be wet or dry — or possibly both?

Eddie Pitzer is praying for clear, blue skies and sun.

However, weather forecasts don’t look promising for the 76th annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, an award-winning, multi-day event that drew more than 100,000 people last year. Rain is predicted every day.

The fair opens Thursday at 4 p.m.

“There’s not a lot I can do about the weather,” said Pitzer, manager of WRAF. “It is what it is … we’ll take it however it comes. There’s a lot of community boots this year [and] this is one of their biggest fund raisers that will have an effect on them, too.

“We will just sort of try to work around [the weather], hope for the best and continue to push forward.”

Outdoor events and contests do not have rain dates and will be canceled due to inclement weather.

Admission prices are $10 for ages 13 and older, $5 for children ages 5- to 12-years-old and free for children 4-years-old and younger. Discount tickets are available online at Etix until midnight Sept. 25.

“They can also come by the office,” Pitzer said. “We do credit-card sales for gate admission as well as wristbands.”

The opening-night highlight is the Queen of the Fair contest that begins at 7 p.m. Participants will be judged on casual wear, talent, evening gown and response from an on-stage question. University of Mount Olive, Wayne Community College and the Wayne County Livestock Development Association (WCLDA) will award scholarships.

UNC Heath Wayne Senior Day is Oct. 1 with free admission for all persons aged 60 and above. Gates open at noon.

Carolina the Band will perform two shows Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Pavilion. The group plays a variety of music that includes beach, country, soul, gospel and oldies.

“It’s a little different,” Pitzer said. “We haven’t had bands in the past. Most of the acts we have are stage performers. It worked into our Sunday schedule where we could fit them in. Maybe you don’t come to ride the rides, but you’ve got a lot of different entertainment that comes to the fair.”

Cheerleaders from area middle and high schools will battle for supremacy Oct. 2 in the grandstand area. The competition begins at 5 p.m.

Of course, the crowd-favorite demolition derby is scheduled for the final day of the fair. Action begins at noon.

“We’ve continued to try and make it better every year,” Pitzer said after last year’s fair. “Over time, they [original WCLDA] thought it would get better. I may not be here five years from now, but I hope it’s bigger and better then.”

Revenue from the fair is used to upgrade facilities, advertise future fairs and create reasonably-prized ticket packages to minimize the cost for fair-goers.

Since its inception and growth, the Wayne County Regional Agricultural Fair has claimed 19th Image Awards from the NC Association of Agricultural Fairs, which recognizes the state’s top carnival. WRAF has also garnered numerous agricultural, youth, Goodness Grows and media awards.

You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call 919-709-9257.