Got a ticket to ride?

By Jane Norris

Published: July 31, 2008

The Albemarle County Fair is back at the fairgrounds in North Garden through Sunday, so let’s start by answering the question callers most frequently ask:

How much are the rides?

To take in the rides at the 27th annual fair tonight, you’ll need to pony up a buck apiece. Ride tickets are $1, or 25 for $20, today and Saturday.

On Sunday, $20 will get you a whole afternoon’s worth of tilting, whirling and wishing you’d waited to have that third hotdog. Even better, if you head to the fair’s Web site at http://www.albemarlecounty fair.com, you can click on a $5 coupon to print out and take along. With that kind of advanced planning, you can be sure to map out a visit to the fair that will allow plenty of time for both excitement and sufficient digestion.

The rides open at 6 tonight, noon Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, so you’ll have plenty of time to take in lots of other entertainment.

Just as fairs have done for generations, Albemarle’s summer spread offers attractions that one simply can’t find anywhere else. Sure, YouTube has its moments, and television schedules are filled with those amusing animal-blooper shows. But there’s nothing like being there in person to see a sunflower bigger than your head and learn that you’ve been calling your husband incorrectly all these years.

They don’t call it the Special Kingdom for nothing, so switch off the laptop, put on some comfortable shoes and get ready to lose yourself in some fun you didn’t know existed, whether as a spectator or a competitor.

A few suggestions:

l The Watermelon Seed-Spitting Contest, at 6 this evening, will reward accuracy and distance. Each competitor gets three seeds. If you’ve been buying seedless watermelon all summer, there’s not much time left to practice, so plan today’s lunch break accordingly.

l The Animal Sound Contest, starting at 7 tonight, will demand unleashing your best inner moo, mew and cackle potential. Crowd response is an important way to find out if you’re barking up the right tree.

l The Husband-Calling Contest will begin at 8 tonight. The judges will be looking for originality, loudness and the audience’s reactions. Sorry, ladies — no profanity is allowed, and the rules in the catalog don’t specify whether you’re out of the running if your hubby doesn’t heed.

l The Pet Show, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, offers prizes ranging from best costume to the pet that looks the most like a television character. You’ll want to plan ahead by filling out an entry form, bringing proof that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date, getting the leash or carrier ready and packing some water and pet food. No pedigrees required — if the only papers your pet has go under its cage, that’s fine.

l The Hog-Calling Contest, at 6 p.m. Saturday, forbids using food or water to lure the hog. Costumes are optional. No word on what the hog will be wearing, so don’t get bogged down worrying about clashing.

l The Tricycle Contest begins its three-wheeling fun at 2 p.m. Sunday. It’s open only to riders ages 6 and younger, and the winner gets a tricycle to take home.