WATERFORD — A longstanding local tradition will continue this weekend when the Waterford World’s Fair opens its gates on Friday.

The fair, located on Irving Green Road, will kick off at 7 a.m. Friday and run until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the fair is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for children age 5 and younger.

Dottie Bell, vice president of the fair, said there are a variety of new events taking place this year, as well as the events that are returning. The new attractions include a climbing wall, trapeze bounce jumper, pony rides, a train pulled by an antique tractor and wagon rides.

“We have plenty of rides to go on,” Bell said. “They’re just not of a mechanical nature.”

Small farm workshops on a variety of topics including organic gardening, composting, raising animals and cheese making will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the fair. Each day will feature demonstrations, such as a forestry demonstration by the Oxford Hills Technical School. Other events include musical performances, cooking and baking contests and a variety of children’s games.

A parade at 5 p.m. will help kick the event off on Friday. A variety of contests will follow. At 6 p.m., the couch potato contest will time male contestants in such feats as going from the couch to the fridge. Friday will feature the “Wee Man” and “He-Man” contests at 6 and 7 p.m., respectively, to test more strenuous activities. The lady’s skillet throw will take place at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, children’s craft activities, including kite-making and paper hats, will take place in the morning, an antique tractor pull will be held at noon and a baby show is scheduled for 4 p.m. Prior to the evening’s dance at 8, a variety show will return for the second year at 6:30 p.m.

“We’ve got quite a lineup on that, and those are pretty much all local students and people right in the area,” Bell said.

She expects an increase in participants in Sunday’s potato salad contest, which includes categories for personal and restaurant competitors. Sunday will also feature steer and oxen shows and a scavenger hunt.

A new craft building is being opened this year, and Bell says three tents should further help visitors withstand any rain that might show up during the weekend.

“It’s looking really, really good this year,” she said. “There’s something going on pretty much nonstop that should interest everybody.”

mlangeveld@sunjournal.com