PORT TOWNSEND — The 76th annual Jefferson County Fair is underway with a host of familiar attractions while also offering something new.

“People come here for a variety of reasons,” said Bill McIntire, fair board president. “This is just a good oldtime country fair.”

The three-day fair, which continue todays through Sunday, provides the expected — with livestock, horticulture and crafts — along with such new attractions as a demolition derby and a plastic cylinder that people climb inside for a simulation of walking on water.

“We went out on a limb getting that one,” McIntire said of the “water balls.”

“But I think a lot of people will enjoy this, and they’ll pay the $5 so they can try it out.”

Fair hours at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

General admission tickets are $6. Tickets are $5 for those older than 65 and students from 13 to 17. They are $2 for children 6 to 12. Children younger than 5 get in free.

A three-day pass, including a meal ticket for a beef barbecue Sunday, costs $15.

Demolition Derby

The Demolition Derby, the first at the fair since 1979, will crash and smash cars at 2:30 p.m. Sunday on the main stage.

It will be preceded by the Mud Drags at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The Kids’ Demolition Derby on the main stage will be at 7:30 p.m. today.

Barrel racing is set from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the horse arena.

The Greatest Kids Show on Dirt provides youngsters free rides on a mechanical bull.

Draft horse pulls are set for 3:30 p.m. today at the main stage.

Barrel racing is set from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the horse arena.

McIntire expects about 13,500 attendees this weekend, about the same as last year but less than the peak years before 2008 that drew more than 15,000.

This year’s theme is Flutterby, which has no meaning aside from “you should flutter on by and see us,” according to Sue McIntire, fair office manager and Bill’s wife.

Music at the fair

The headlining musical event is a performance by the band, Born to Be Wild, which is descended from the prominent 1960s group Steppenwolf. Born to Be Wild includes Goldy McJohn, who was the original keyboardist for Steppenwolf.

The show begins at 1:30 p.m. today on the small stage.

Another highlight will be Brian “Buck” Ellard of Port Townsend, also on the small stage, who will perform at 11:30 a.m. today and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Troy “T-Bone” Lucas will perform songs from the past and modern country hits at 7:30 p.m. tonight on the small stage.

The Dukes of Dabob will play Dixieland, traditional jazz and blues at 4:30 p.m. today.

The Gothard Sisters will perform Celtic arrangements of well-known traditional tunes and popular songs, as well as their own original compositions from their six albums, at 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. today, all on the small stage.

On Sunday, the Cats Meow Jazz Band will perform on the small stage at 11 a.m., followed by Bobby Sox & the Jukebox at 3 p.m.

Two barbecues are scheduled.

Salmon will be served for $10 from noon to 3 p.m. today, and beef for $8 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, both in the picnic area.

The livestock exhibitions provide a character-building opportunity for local youths, said Cheryl Rafoth, barn superintendent.

“This is a great learning experience for kids,” she said.

“They learn how to share. They learn responsibility and gain confidence and self-esteem by learning how to take care of animals.”

Hen mother

One of this year’s attraction is Tara, a hen dubbed “Mom of the Year” because she is raising three recently hatched ducks dubbed Poppy, Rosy and Lily.

Rafoth got the fertilized eggs from another farmer. Tara sat on them until they hatched.

Three other eggs from the same batch were hatched in an incubator, Rafoth said.

“There’s a real difference,” she said. “The three that are with Tara look a whole lot healthier.”

Among other events are a continuing series of basic music lessons for ukulele, fiddle, guitar and harmonica in the Yesteryear Building

Port Townsend Paper Corp. is sponsoring the lessons from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Also, magician Brian Wood will bring his “Bamboozle Magic” from 10:30 a.m. to closing each day of the fair.

For more information, visit www.jeffcofairgrounds.com or phone 360-385-1013.

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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.