OXFORD — Jackie Young, president of the Oxford County Agricultural Society, has confirmed that Grammy-winning artist LeAnn Rimes will perform at the Oxford Fair on Saturday, Sept. 15.

“LeAnn’s management has assured us that she will perform as scheduled on September 15 at 8 p.m.,” Young said. Tickets are $5 and are available at the gate.

Questions surfaced recently about the singer’s appearance when it was announced that Rimes would enter a 30-day treatment center on Aug. 30 to “cope with anxiety and stress,” according to a statement to People Magazine from her representative, Marcel Pariseau. She is expected to keep all her weekend concert days throughout the month of September.

Young said, “The response to the $5 ticket, which includes all-day admission to the fair and country superstar LeAnn Rimes’ concert, has been overwhelming.”

The multi-time Grammy- and CMA-award-winning artist said that she was “looking forward to getting back to Maine and to see and play for her many loyal fans in the area,” Young said.

Young said anonymous donors are sponsoring Rimes’ performance in hopes of bringing record numbers to the fair this year.

“The goal set by the OCAS Board is to make going to the Oxford Fair a reasonable outing for locals in the community,” Young said.

Young said she has been “overwhelmed” by the community support this year as a number of changes have been made to entice more people back to the longtime fair.

Changes include reducing the number of fair days from seven to four and a change in admission pricing. Children 12 and under are free everyday. On Wednesday, the gate price is $1. On Thursday through Saturday the gate price will be $5.

Smokey’s Greater Shows will be there offering $1 rides on Wednesday, bracelet prices of $15 for Thursday.

Young said the fair will include the traditional agricultural exhibits, tractor pulls, oxen horse pulls and horse shows, a demolition derby and harness racing every day of the fair. On Friday and Saturday, Craig Cameron will exhibit horsemanship training and colt breaking.

There will also be a large number of vendors and food offerings on site throughout the week.

On Wednesday, the focus will be educational day. More than 500 local students are expected to see the animals, exhibitors and participate in hands-on demonstrations including turning butter, panning for gold and mining of gems. Young said each student will receive a bag of goodies from local businesses that emphasize keeping healthy, doing well in school and even starting a savings account.

Thursday is Senior Citizen Day, and all visitors to the fair are invited to a free community snack and lunch, hosted by Dr. Lawrence C. Murch, local optometrist and director of the fair. Young said there will be games and fun for seniors.

Friday is Woodman’s Day and a 4-H youth market lamb and beef sale. The evening activities include the popular demolition derby.

Saturday is Family Fun Day and 4-H Day, culminating with the Rimes concert.

A full list of activities and schedules is available on the fair’s website at www.oxfordcountyfair.com.

ldixon@sunjournal.com