UKIAH, Calif. – This year’s Redwood Empire Fair is designed for visitors to enjoy four full days of fun, even for those on a budget.

Every year, the fair offers attendees an opportunity to save $5 on carnival wristbands. The unlimited one-day-use wristbands may be used for the entire weekend. Wristbands are available in Ukiah at Raley’s, Taco Bell, Chavez Market, Creative Workshop, and at the Fair Office. In Willits, purchase wristbands at JD Redhouse. In Fort Bragg, get your tickets at Harvest Market. For the first time, Covelo residents may pick up wristbands at Uptown Mercantile.

Wristbands must be purchased by 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 1st, prior to the opening of the Fair.

Start out the weekend with free admission for kids and seniors on the Fair’s opening day, Thursday, Aug. 1. Admission is free until 6 p.m. for kids aged 6 to 12 and seniors 65 and older. Children under 5 are always admitted free of charge. Admission to the fair provides an all-inclusive experience, with music, Speedway activities and entertainment included in the admission price.

This year’s “Goin’ Hog Wild” theme exemplifies the focus on fun for the whole family. Each day, contests take place at the Willow Tree Stage. Get sticky on Thursday at the Watermelon Eating Contest, beginning at 5 p.m.

Save the funnel cakes for later and enter the Pie Eating Contest on Friday at 4:30 p.m. How many corn dogs can you eat? Try your luck on Saturday at 5 p.m., and see if you have the “chops” to eat as many hot dogs as you can on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

For your aspiring bakers, “When Pigs Fly” cupcake decorating takes place on Saturday, Aug. 3nd. “Hog Wild Cookie” decorating will take place on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Both events take place in the Home Arts Building.

Once again, Pardini Appliance is sponsoring the crowd-pleasing Diaper Dash on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 2:30 p.m., located at the Willow Tree Stage. The lucky winner will receive a washing machine.

Be sure to take the kids to the show rings and the swine, sheep, beef and small animal buildings. Visit 4-H members and Future Farmers who have spent months preparing themselves and their animals for showing. The young people are eager to educate the public about their animals and agriculture, and enjoy educating children and adults about all aspects of raising and showing their animals.

This year marks the return of the very popular Brad’s World Reptiles exhibit, which will be located in Carl Purdy Hall. Expect to view a wide array of reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects, with opportunities for photographs and plenty of educational material and hands-on displays.

It’s not just the hogs that are going wild at this year’s fair. Visit the Fair Circle all weekend where “Walk on the Wild Side” will offer an interactive animal experience with a variety of endangered and rescued wild animals, who make their home in a rural wildlife sanctuary.

Jeremy the Juggler is returning to the fair, and can be found all weekend bringing fun to the fairgrounds. Jeremy is a celebrated bilingual juggler, unicyclist, hand-whistler, beat-boxer and origami maker, who has performed at fairs up and down the state, as well as at corporate events for Motorola, Industrial Light and Magic, Pixar and Red Bull.

Balloons are not just for parties. Totally Twisted Balloons will amaze the family with all the fun ways balloons can be used to dazzle and entertain.

For years, the Ukiah Idol competition has provided the community with a venue for aspiring performers to get on stage and entertain supportive audiences. The “Little Idol and Junior Idol” finals on Friday, Aug. 2, at 5 p.m. The Grand Finals take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4. Both events take place on the Willow Tree Stage.

The exhibits in the Fine Arts Building, Junior Building, Flower Building and Home Arts Building offer a welcome respite from the heat and the crowds. Take a look at the creative offerings of kids and adults, who submit the best of what they do for a chance at cash prizes. From fresh veggies to flower arrangements, Lego collections to world-class quilts, cakes to canned goods, the community entries are one of the most iconic Fair activities.

The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Families call the Speedway entertainment the capstone of their fair experience. Every night offers a new and different level of racing fun, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights nights and 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Close out the busy day with live music on the Willow Tree Stage, with Warehouse 21 at 6 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, The Funky Dozen at 7 and 9 p.m. on Friday, Kingsborough at 6 and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Luis Perez y la Nueva Ilusion & Banda Pacifica, with a 5 p.m. show on Sunday.

The fair opens at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, and Friday, Aug. 2, and at noon on Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4.

For more information, visit the Fair’s Facebook Page, the Redwood Empire Fair Web site at http://www.redwoodempirefair.com/august-fair/ or phone 707-462-3884.